Dundee manager James McPake has admitted his side couldn’t cope with Celtic’s thrilling forwards, singling out the “outstanding” Kyogo Furuhashi in quotes reported by The Courier.
Dundee supporters will be glad to see the back of Furuhashi – for 2021 at least.
Because, in just two games against the men from Dens Park, Celtic’s mesmeric Japan international has scored five times. A well-taken brace yesterday added to his hat-trick against the same opposition in August.
Furuhashi combined with the similarly destructive Filipe Jota as Ange Postecoglou’s side tore Dundee apart, racing into a 4-1 lead with just 50 minutes on the clock.
His second of the game, rattled home first time with his left foot, took Kyogo’s tally to 13 in just 18 games for his new employers.
Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi puts Dundee to the sword
“Celtic came out of the blocks really well and punished us. That happens against really good players if you give them a sniff. They started both halves better than us and ultimately the third goal (Jota’s second of the day) killed the contest,” says McPake, who was equally effusive about Furuhashi in August too.
“The front three (Jota, Furuhashi and Liel Abada) are good players. Their movement is good. Kyogo’s finish for the fourth goal is outstanding.
“When Celtic are like that they are very hard to deal with and it showed today. On the day, Celtic deserved the three points.”
With the ink still drying on his new long-term contract, the rejuvenated Anthony Ralston enhanced his growing reputation with another superb performance in the Lowlands, providing two assists while hitting the post in the build up to Jota’s opener.
Celtic are now just four points behind Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table having scored one more than Steven Gerrard’s men.
But while the Hoops have conceded just nine times in 13 league games, statistics can be misleading.
Those well-publicised defensive deficiencies were out in force once more at Dens Park and, if Postecoglou is to taste champagne during his first season in Glasgow, Celtic must stop gifting opponents a route back into games.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
