Partick Thistle 1-4 Celtic

A performance that was solid if not spectacular was more than enough to hand SPL opposition a tough night at the office.

There were a number of good performances and some even great but I would say that I have seen better from this slick Celtic outfit so far this season.

Even so, this was miles from the ponderous football of just 7/8 months ago. A decent performance punctuated by moments and periods of play that are beyond teams at this level saw the game decided after half time. The high press, quick Celtic thinking and slack Partick play contributing to another "mad minute", this time entirely in favour of Brendan Rogers bhoys, a double salvo sinking Partick just after the restart.

On another night the industry and movement of Griffiths would have made him the best player on the park, grabbing the headlines with a superbly taken goal (his dancing feet allowing him to pivot in the box, ghost past the defender before curling a beautiful shot into the keepers top right hand corner) and 2 assists, one of which for the all important first goal (squaring up his man before driving the ball across the face of goal for Armstrong to attack).

Yet this was a night about the re-emergence of Stuart Armstrong. I realise that continuing to go on about players before and after Ronny can seem a bit harsh and unkind but our current crop of players have been transformed. I felt like Armstrong last season was a player who appeared frightened to try and be THE man to grab hold of the game, always looking for the easy pass, a performance to just get by and his game really suffered. In fact he looked like a real dud.

The confidence he is playing with at the moment is incredible and it has brought out the player we paid the money for 2 years ago. He is looking to get on the ball and help pull the strings. He is actually providing that off the ball running that was a characteristic of his game at Dundee Utd. First goal tonight is the best example of this in action. Last season that ball goes straight across the face of goal with Armstrong loitering outside the penalty box waiting for the pass back.

I like the fact that he wants to get on the ball, that he offers that extra threat through the middle when opposition players are man marking Tam or Moussa/Leigh. He has become a key link man from defence to attack, supporting Brown and we look a much more fluid and cohesive side with him as part of it.

Like I say, this wasn't a vintage Celtic performance but we seem to be able to produce these magic moments when it really matters.

Worth noting that our pressing game really seems to terrify teams at this level. Winning the ball back half way inside the opposition half with runners pouring forward off the ball is doing the business.

I remain unconvinced by Gamboa as our long term right back solution though kudos must go to him for the pressure on their defender that led to the third goal.

The fourth goal was slick in execution and put the exclamation mark on our dominance of the game. Izaguirre got on the end of a sliding pass behind the fullback and dinked a cut back into the path of the onrushing Callum McGregor who hit a controlled finish into the bottom left hand corner of the net, unchallenged. It looked fairly routine and easy which kind of summed up the second half though Thistle scored with an impressive looping header and yet another kamikaze Craig Gordon moment caused a moment of anxiety.

Our energy levels were impressive I thought considering we played Tuesday night in a high intensity game. Griffiths has earned a shot at the first team with Moussa being a bit off form these last few games, (though I have no doubt that he will come through it). The squad will play a key part this month so I look forward to seeing more of the likes of Christie and Henderson when the opportunity arises.

All is most certainly rosy in the garden at the moment.