Perfect Start To A Big Month: A Hamilton Accies-Celtic Match Report

Friday September 8th: Scottish Premiership; Hamilton Accies 1 (Gogic 86’) Celtic 4 (Armstrong 17’, Sinclair 29’, 42’, Edouard 65’)

Celtic began a run of 7 games in 22 days with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Hamilton Accies, which featured a great performance by Scott Sinclair.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game against PSG, Brendan Rodgers played a 3-4-3 formation, with the returning Jozo Simunovic partnering Tierney and Lustig at the back, with debuts for Patrick Roberts and Odsonne Edouard further up the park. In midfield Stuart Armstrong came in for Olivier Ntcham.

Celtic began the game at a good tempo, with Roberts and Edouard both causing Accies problems, but Scott Sinclair came closest to opening the scoring on two occasions, firstly with with a shot from the edge of the box that stung the palms of Woods in the Hamilton goal and then with a cross-shot that Woods tipped over the bar.

The inevitable goal came in the 17th minute, and it was a nice finish from Stuart Armstrong, who curled a shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box, a goal very similar to those he scored last season.

The second goal arrived in the 29th minute and was all about Edouard, who went on a strong run and when the ball eventually broke to Sinclair, his fine finish gave Woods no chance.

Celtic’s third goal just before half-time featured some great play by Scott Sinclair, as after his original shot hit the post he had the speed of mind to to hammer home the rebound in off the other post, wonderful individual play by the best player in Scotland.

Sinclair then missed a great chance to complete his hat-trick early in the second-half, as after Tierney’s long ball put him through on goal his lob went over the bar.

Edouard then scored a well deserved debut goal in the 65th minute, as he won the ball in midfield, held off two challenges and after a one-two with Roberts hit shot eluded Woods and found the net.

Sinclair was then unlucky not to complete his hat-trick as after more good work from Edouard his shot deflected onto the post. The only blemish for Celtic was the late consolation goal conceded after Craig Gordon misjudged a corner allowing Alexandros Gogic to head home.

Despite giving away the goal, Brendan Rodgers will have been delighted with the performance, with both Patrick Roberts and the Odsonne Edouard in particular having great games and Jozo Simunovic getting game time is also a boost ahead of the PSG game. Stuart Armstrong is also starting to look like the player he was last season but the man of the match was Scott Sinclair, who has virtually unplayable at times. He will be a big player against PSG.