Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…2
(Griffiths 12, Edouard 47)

HAMILTON…0

Celtic recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Hamilton Accies at Paradise. Neil Lennon’s side maintained the pressure on their opponents throughout the 90 minutes and were unfortunate not to have scored more with the chances created.

Leigh Griffiths put Celtic in front in the 11^th minute and Odsonne Edouard doubled the lead early in the second half.

Celtic started the game with a good tempo as they tried to work an opening in the Hamilton defence.

Some excellent play from Greg Taylor led to the first chance after the Hoops full-back manoeuvred away from two opposition players before slipping the ball inside to Odsonne Edouard. The Frenchman fired off a quick shot but his effort was blocked on route to goal.

Edouard’s striking partner, Leigh Griffiths, seized his opportunity moments later to open the scoring. Griffiths received the ball 20 yards from goal, took a touch and quickly drilled a wonderful shot into the bottom corner.

Griffiths passed up a wonderful chance to double Celtic’s lead five minutes later. McGregor did well to get to the byline and cut a pass back into the six yard box. Griffiths was in position to finish but couldn’t connect with the ball.

Celtic continued to maintain the pressure and never gave Hamilton a moment to settle. McGregor had a go at increasing Celtic’s lead midway through the half with a well-struck shot from distance but it was too close to Fulton who saved comfortably. The Celtic captain had his first-time effort from just inside the box saved by Fulton later in the half

Taylor and Kristoffer Ajer caused Hamilton problems in the wide areas as both Celtic defenders pushed forward and provided good balls into the box for the team-mates.

Edouard and David Turnbull were a constant threat in front of goal but neither could find the back of the net. Turnbull fires wide with a half-volley and had another shot blocked. Edouard meanwhile did well to create space for himself with two quick stepovers but Fulton got a hand to his shot.

The visitors could have levelled 10 minutes before the break but David Moyo shot wide from close range after the ball fell kindly to him inside the box.

Edouard failed to capitalise on a good chance just before half time when Turnbull set him up inside the penalty area. Edouard took a touch and looked certain to score but he fired his shot straight at the keeper.

The French striker made the most of his first chance after the break to double Celtic’s lead. Griffiths threaded a great pass through the opposition defence and it Edouard pounced on the break of the ball, rounded the keeper and rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

Griffiths nearly scored his second goal of the game when he ran on to Shane Duffy’s lofted pass into the box. His first touch was excellent but he quickly tried to pull the trigger and misjudged his shot.

Celtic continued to dominate throughout the second half but Hamilton were more organised in defence than they were in the first period and managed to not concede as many chances.

Some wonderful play from Edouard helped open up the opposition defence when he turned away from his marker to break away and slip a pass to Elyounoussi. The Hoops midfielder had a shot from distance but his attempt was off target.

Taylor and Ajer continued to impress in the wide areas as the game wore on. Ajer cut back a pass from Nir Bitton but the Hamilton defence managed to stab clear the danger.

Despite their dominance, Celtic were unable to increase their lead but they defended well and Neil Lennon would have been pleased to see both of his strikers get on the scoresheet.

CELTIC: Bain; Taylor, Duffy, Bitton, Griffiths (Ajeti 69), Soro, Turnbull (Christie 69), Edouard (Rogic 85), Elyounoussi, Ajer, McGregor.
Subs: Barkas, Klimala, Johnston, Ralston, Welsh, Laxalt.

HAMILTON: Fulton, Hamilton. Martin, Easton, Hodson, Odofin, Stirling (Winter 74), McMann, Callachan (Mimnaugh 86), Ogkmpoe (Martin 56), Moyo
Subs: Collar, Trafford, Stanger, Munro, Gourlay, Smith

Website Man of the Match: Leigh Griffiths

Griffiths and Edouard on target as Celts defeat Hamilton