Celtic edged closer to sealing a local treble on Saturday after they booked a place in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup in style.
Having already won the League Cup back in November and cruising to a Premiership win having established a 27-point gap on top of the table, Inverness couldn’t stand in their way to a possible Cup victory in the 5th round, as the Hoops saw them off in a 6-nil rout that once again confirms Brendan Rodgers’ side as the best club in the land.
Hat-trick hero against St. Johnstone Dembele was at it the centre of it all again as Celtic demolished the visitors, with him and Lustig putting their side 2-nil up in the 1st half after the latter combined with Bitton to open the scoring in the 20th minute, while the striker connected with a Forrest cutback to score in the 45th minute, setting a tone for the shellacking to come.
The French youngster added 2 more after play resumed, while left-back Tierney and captain Brown both got on the scoresheet as Celtic booked a place in the quarterfinals with St Mirren.The thrashing would have been more humiliating as Forrest also went close.
Inverness were the last and only side to have prevented Celtic from winning a domestic game this season after both sides played out a 2-2 draw at the Caledonian Stadium back in September, but they were no equal match for the Bhoys this time around.
Here is how Celtic players are rated as they recorded their biggest win of the season:
Gordon
Kept his 20th clean sheet of the season without having a single save to make all game as the visitors hardly troubled his goal.
Rating: 7/10
Lustig
Applied a perfect control to connect with Bitton’s cross to open the scoring.
Rating: 8/10
Boyata
Took perfect control of affairs at the heart of defence, with his precise passing from the back excellent.
Rating: 8/10
Sviatchenko
Pocketed the visitors’ striker Billy McKay during the corners, while he kept it simple at the back.
Rating: 7/10
Tierney
Opened his account for the season with a late header and was excellent all game, hardly putting in a wrong step.
Rating: 8/10
Bitton
Superb all-round performance from the Israeli, with his assist for the opening goal; is one of the best of the season.
Rating: 8/10
Brown
Bagged his 3rd goal of the term with a fine strike to cap off a solid performance in the middle of the park.
Rating: 8/10
Forrest
Assisted 3 goals while he made things hard for left-back Carl Tremarco all-game.
A masterpiece performance from the winger.
Rating: 9/10
Henderson
Sloppy performance from the midfielder who lost possession and couldn’t contain the pressure of the game at times.
Squandered many chances which could have put the scores well beyond 6-nil.
Rating: 6/10
Sinclair
Threatened Inverness’ goal all game but was unlucky not to add to his tally of 16 goals this term.
Rating: 7/10
Dembele
Scored his 2nd hat-trick in less than a week as he highlighted his goalscoring prowess once more.
Rating: 10/10
SUBSTITUTES
McGregor
Came on for Henderson in the 66th and had a great game.
Rating: 6/10
Ciftci
Couldn’t make much of the little time he was afforded.
Rating: 6/10
Touré
Late Sub.
Rating: Not Available