Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
Patrick Roberts, second right, celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal in the 4-0 defeat of Hearts.
Patrick Roberts, second right, celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal in the 4-0 defeat of Hearts. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
Patrick Roberts, second right, celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal in the 4-0 defeat of Hearts. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Brendan Rodgers hails ‘magnificent’ Celtic after breaking 1967 winning run

This article is more than 7 years old

Brendan Rodgers hailed Celtic’s “incredible run” after they broke a Lisbon Lions record with a 4-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead. Victory extended Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run since the start of the season to 27 games, one more than Jock Stein’s side of 1966-67.

The midfielder Callum McGregor, who started only because Stuart Armstrong pulled up with a tight hamstring in the warm-up, gave the home side the interval lead with a well-taken drive.

Scott Sinclair, who started the game at centre-forward because Moussa Dembélé and Leigh Griffiths missed out with knee and calf injuries respectively, grabbed a double – the second from the spot in the dying stages – and the impressive Patrick Roberts also scored.

Of the record, Rodgers said: “It is a huge honour of course. The history of this club, 129 years, and obviously how difficult that is.

“It is an incredible run and every accolade they get they deserve because of their focus, the spirit within the team and the quality of the football they are producing.

“We are very proud but we have set the challenge going forward. We have to keep winning and that comes from our work, our concentration and making sure we take care of all the background noise that goes around them and just focus on the job. The players were magnificent.”

The Hoops’ 17th consecutive Premiership victory restored their 22-point lead at the top of the table over Rangers. Rodgers said: “It was an outstanding team performance but above all of that, our ability to press the game was outstanding.”

The Hearts head coach, Ian Cathro, was concerned over his defender John Souttar, who was carried off on a stretcher late in the match with an achilles tendon injury.

He said: “There was a challenge and then he landed awkwardly. We don’t know the extent of it but, as you saw, it didn’t look nice.”

Comments (…)

Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

Most viewed

Most viewed