Celtic opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table following a comfortable 5-0 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park this afternoon as the Parkhead side made peace after a turbulent week.
Kris Commons retained his place in the starting line-up after his public falling out with the bench in Molde on Thursday night. Substituted just after the hour mark this afternoon after chipping in with two goals, Commons and Deila exchanged a brief embrace on the touchline that was cheered by those inside Celtic Park, while Commons' high fives with John Kennedy and John Collins suggested a truce, for the time being at least.
It was the kind of easy afternoon that Deila needed after a fraught return to his homeland and he would have been pleased to find Sunday’s visitors to Celtic Park the benevolent kind.
Clearly understanding of the rawness of Celtic’s European wounds, United were content to allow Deila’s men to re-affirm themselves with a game that amounted to little more than target practice for the Hoops.
Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring for Ronny Deila’s side after just 15 minutes in an encounter that was entirely one-sided throughout. Indeed, the only source of intrigue in this meeting was just how many Celtic would chalk up.
Dedryck Boyata netted with a glancing header as the game edged towards the break before Commons converted the first of his brace from the spot. Shortly after the re-start he was at it again with an impressive angled effort as Celtic turned up the heat on a sorry United side.
Skipper Scott Brown sealed the win with the fifth of the afternoon as he drove down the left-hand side of the box and his shot across goal was deflected into the net by Aaron Kuhl
One mix-up between Boyata and Craig Gordon, however, as they game drew to a close underlined just how vulnerable Celtic can be at the back. It has been the source of their torment on the Continent so far this season but for the moment Deila was happy to focus on the positives.
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