Celtic coasted to a 2-0 win in their latest Premiership clash versus Dundee United.
The champions scored nine without reply against the Tangerines the last time out in Tayside and it cost Jack Ross his job as manager after just 10 weeks. United had to blank out the thrashing off Ange Postecoglou's team and they did just that in a first half of few chances, but one huge talking point did arise shortly after a Jota cross hit the post. Another ball was fizzed into the United area and after goalkeeper Mark Birighitti clashed with Kyogo, Don Robertson pointed to the spot. VAR was called upon and off he went to the monitor, with the verdict reading not guilt as Liam Fox's side got the break goalless.
Aaron Mooy had been denied by a super block by Craig Sibbald while Jota and Kyogo were left frustrated, and a similar outcome in the second could see United claim a priceless reward in their battle to beat the drop. But it soon slipped away as Mooy whipped in a wind-assisted cross evaded Aussie Birighitti and Jota was all too keen to head home. Then the assist maker turned scorer as VAR again intervened, sending Robertson to the screen again after a handball by Kieran Freeman.
That was more clear cut and the chance from 12 yards was given, which the midfielder converted. It was cruise control from there and it allowed new signing Hyeongyu Oh to make his debut in front of a delighted away support.
Victory ensures that the leaders have reinstated their nine-point gap at the top of the table. Here are three Celtic talking points from the clash at Tannadice.
Routine work
Postecoglou has made it 50 wins in 61 Premiership matches and that matches Brendan Rodgers' record. And that number is going to rise at a rapid pace on recent evidence.
Even during the first half where United were doing well just to hold them off, there was a sense that the end result was never going to be in doubt. The longer the Celtic manager's reign has gone on, more often than not has it become a damage limitation job rather than having a go at trying to take something off them.
Rodgers' side were The Invincibles but this team might well earn The Inevitables tag. When you can roll on the likes of Matt O'Riley, Daizen Maeda and David Turnbull just after the hour mark, you know you have a good thing going with Sead Haksabanovic and co waiting for a later impact.
Never mind a win at this stage, it's hard to see where Celtic next drop two points in domestic matters. And with the rate they improve in transfer windows, that doesn't seem like a trend that will buck soon.
VAR spotlight
Where would we be in a Scottish football weekend these days if we weren't discussing a decision its newest toy had made? Birighitti was penalised as he collided with Kyogo going to claim a high cross but was eventually given a reprieve.
Some have argued there was little evidence to give a penalty against him, while some are arguing there was no clear and obvious error on referee Don Robertson's part for the decision to be overturned. VAR was brought in to try and quell some of the debate surrounding refereeing decisions but as with other games this round of matches alone, it's doing the opposite.
That's before we even hit the argument for Kyogo potentially being offside in the action. This is far from the worse culprit of VAR but it is yet another example of it still proving a thorny issue for punters, albeit it's second action was as easy as they come.
Mooy evolution
The midfielder took his time to adapt to life in Glasgow after a stint in China but a promising World Cup with Australia seems to have unlocked another level of confidence within Mooy. And now he is adding an element to his game that is adding to the attacking prowess Postecoglou has.
He is breaking from his position in midfield in between defensive lines to form another part of the Celtic forward line. Mooy did it in the first half and put in some teasing crosses, while another in the second half provided the ammo for his countryman to misjudge its delivery and Jota nodded home.
Then his penalty added to a perfect day for him, and it was telling fans sung his name after the opener. A key cog in the green and white system at present.
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