Another Celtic victory and another display of great one and two touch football, which devastated their Inverness opponents and moved them six points clear of Accies. Thistle found it almost impossible to break from their half, lone striker Andrew Macrea finding precious few touches on the ball. Celtic made the most of it and Thistle paid dearly.

The first goal came after some sustained Celtic pressure, Aidan Nesbitt sent a perfect ball wide to Sam Wardrop on the right, he crossed to the back post, and Regan Hendry hammered home, 1-0. Jamie McCart then sent a good long ball wide into space for Hendry, passed inside to Conor McManus, his twelve yard strike being well blocked.

ICT found it hard to retain possession, and Celtic were merciless. The Bhoys went close, when McManus and Luke Donnelly combined well on the edge of the Thistle penalty area.  The ball went wide to Wardrop who passed inside for Donnelly, his first touch letting him down on this occasion and the chance lost.

Celtic broke at pace, Wardrop sent on for Donnelly who curled the ball toward the back post, Cammy McKay however, saved magnificently. Celtic’s second eventually came from a corner kick to the back post. It was headed back inside, Donnelly gathered and shot on goal, and Jamie McCart forced over the line from close range, 2-0.

The third started from a quick break down the left, Aidan Nesbitt sent wide for Tyler Blackett, he crossed into the penalty area and Donnelly finished from ten yards, 3-0. The high tempo game played by Celtic may have taken its toll, as the pace of the game slowed toward the end of the half. Celtic still retained possession and made things difficult for Thistle, but lost some of their edge.

That edge remained missing from Celtic’s play was from the beginning of the second half, still making things difficult, but without the opportunities. A half chance came from Theo Archibald’s curled strike toward the back post, Fiacre Kelleher then headed on goal from an Archibald corner kick, McKay held to make his save look comfortable.

A goal didn’t look likely in the second half, but it came all the same. Inverness made a foray into the Celtic half when the play broke down. Wardrop gathered and sent the ball long and wide for Calvin Miller, he cut inside passed a defender and shot low past the keeper from wide, 4-0. Daniel Higgins shot wide of the post from twenty two yards.

Mark Hill intercepted another stray Inverness pass inside his own half, made a strong run forward and sent wide for Miller. He eventually evaded his marker on the edge of the penalty area and played inside for Nesbitt, his fifteen yard shot being well saved. Moments later, the ball fell to Nesbitt out wide on the left, he cut inside and shot, again the keeper saved.

The Celts had one final chance, when Archibald done well to evade a challenge, stay on his feet and cross for Miller. His headed attempt went wide as far as Mark Hill, who struck past the post from eight yards. The Celts next face Dundee at Links Park, whilst Thistle play the Dons at Balmoor.