Celtic Ease Into The Next Round With An Easy Win At A Packed Paradise.

Well that was easy tonight without having to be brilliant. The team performed as we wanted them to, doing a thoroughly professional job to put us into the next round, guarantee us European group stage football and set up a tie with AZ Alkmaar.

I enjoyed the game. I thought we stayed true to our attacking philosophy.

We’ve scored another three goals. We’ve kept a clean sheet. The manager seemed to enjoy himself.

And we’re back in front of full houses again.

Here are the individual player ratings on a night we were took another step closer to where we want to be.

Hart

When you are a Celtic keeper you spend most of your time doing nothing, and so you have to be alert when the big moments come. To say that Joe Hart did that tonight is an understatement. Two exceptional saves have given us reason to believe that we’ve finally got someone between the sticks who will command the area and inspire confidence.

8/10. On a night when he had little to do, he did it brilliantly.

Ralston

I’ve started to love this guy. He fights hard. He never quits. He shows a commitment to the team that is awesome. The latest player linked with his position was sitting in the stand tonight; I think it says plenty that this is a Manchester City loanee and not a permanent buy. This isn’t going cheap. This is recognising that Ralston gets it, that he fits into the manager’s plan, that he has more than earned his shot at making the right back position his own. I still expect a right back to be signed … I have started to wonder if the guy we’re signing is the backup.

7/10. Solid as a rock. Watching him grow into this role is a pleasure.

Taylor

A decent display from this young man, who is another player who finds himself under constant pressure and about whom we still have many, many question. But he never hides, and he gets up and down that wing like crazy. I thought he was solid without being brilliant.

6/10. Good display. Well done kiddo.

Welsh

Showed again why playing a central defender in central defence is better than playing a midfielder there. Welsh can consider himself very unlucky to have been dropped at all. Until we sign someone from the top bracket or until Jullien is back fit the place is his until someone proves himself better. I think that might be hard to do.

7/10. A composed and disciplined performance.

Starfelt

I like him and I think he’s going to be a class act, but right now he looks a bit shaky. Could have given away a penalty with a clumsy challenge but other than that I thought he did well. He’s settling in, and I think he’ll be a cracker when he does.

6/10. Still finding his feet, and that’s obvious.

McGregor

Magnificent performance. A captain playing a captains role. He has filled Brown’s jersey very, very well already both on and off the field and that has surprised some people. I don’t know why. He’s always had the qualities of a leader and that sits nicely with his fantastic talent. I thought he was absolutely superb tonight.

9/10. Glorious performance and would have been man of the match but for the next guy.

Turnbull

Superb display from Turnbull, answering a lot of the questions the fans have been asking about when he was going to put on a show for us. Tonight was the night, and the decision to partner him with Rogic paid off in spades as both turned up everywhere. But it was Turnbull who got the goals, two of them, and they complimented a performance which was fantastic overall.

9/10. A really welcome display from this young man, and one out of the very top drawer.

Rogic

A cracking display from a player Ange knows well. His running, his movement, his good feet, his range of passing … we are watching the Tom Rogic of old here and it is a brilliant sight to see. His presence in this side scares teams, and that’s justified on tonight’s evidence.

7/10. He is a critical part of the Ange armoury. 

Forrest

The much maligned, the much misunderstood, the boy who lived the dream and has a famous name to boot! I cannot praise him enough. He never quits, he runs after every ball and he gives us so much in an attacking sense. He might not even have made the team tonight had Abada not gotten injured, but he seized the moment and has another goal. He’s on the brink of the 100 now. I cannot wait until he gets it.

7/10. Done what was asked, and even scored a goal.

Kyogo 

No goal tonight, but everything else, by God. He is lightning quick. He is alert. He is aggressive. He has superb instincts and his first touch is a gift from God. He reminds me so, so much of a certain player who graced our forward line; the tongue didn’t come out tonight but this kid is going to score barrowloads of goals for us and with the way he moves, the way defenders can’t get near him and his predatory instinct in front of goal … the Henrik comparisons are only going to become more frequent.

8/10. Everything but the goal he deserved. What a footballer we’ve nabbed here.

Christie

Continues to work harder than any other player in the side apart from Callum. I desperately want to see him commit to Celtic for another campaign at the very least, because we’re watching the Christie of old here and he’s totally on board with what Ange wants to do.

7/10. Loving watching this guy again and that says it all.

Soro

A cracking prospect this guy, and I cannot understand his critics. He plays in a position which gets no love anyway, and where much of the work he does isn’t highlighted. He sometimes needs to take one wee second extra to find the right pass, but he is aggressive, hard in the tackle, strong and resilient. I enjoy watching him, and competition for his place will only make him better.

6/10. Played well when he came on.

Bitton

Mr Reliable. Bitton is the epitome of a Good Solider; he does what’s asked of him without grumbling. I don’t like him in defence but he plays well in midfield and that’s where he was tonight when he came on and I hope the manager keeps playing him there when the need arises.

5/10. Not really on long enough to make a difference.

Montgomery

We don’t have a picture for Monty yet, but he will get one as he plays more games, and that looks likely as he’s highly rated. In a few wee minor moments you saw why. Big future, this kid … but please, Celtic, not as a full-back …

5/10. Will get better and better with exposure to the first team.

Ajeti

Shows it in little moments, but this boy has a big few months in front of him. He needs to grab chances like these when they come along and he needs to give the manager more reasons to pick him. Not quite doing it at the moment.

5/10. Still to really impress us under the new gaffer, aside from a few friendly displays.

Edouard

What else can you say? The saga continues. Eddie didn’t score tonight after coming on but only because he went for the fancy chip rather than blasting the ball past the goalkeeper, but his movement and awareness to get away from the defence reminds us what a player, what an asset, he can be. I am giving him the assist for Forrest’s goal. We need to work out what we’re doing with this guy fast.

6/10. Would have been a seven if he’d scored.

Ange Postecoglou

The gaffer knows exactly what he’s doing and no mistake. His tactical setup tonight was perfect. We didn’t play as high up the pitch as we did in the Czech Republic and that worked for us. His ideas, his discipline, his philosophy … all these things come across more and more with every week that passes. He got his subs right as well, a mixture of tactical tinkering and preserving the legs of our best players. He clearly enjoyed his first proper game in front of a full Celtic Park.

8/10. Excellent from the big chap, he is doing just fine now he has his players and his ideas are getting across.

The Celtic Fans

Almost to a man, they were excellent. It was great to see a packed Paradise and they made themselves heard. The players took a lot of heart from it and you could tell that. A big night for the supporters, and they enjoyed it thoroughly.

9/10. What a nice night to be back inside a full Celtic Park, watching our team win comfortably.