'Sensational' Watt shines at double for Celtic

Tony Watt marked his competitive first start with a double as Celtic comfortably dispatched Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4-2 at the Caledonian Stadium despite a late rally from the home side.

With a long injury list and one eye on Wednesday's crucial Champions League qualifier, Neil Lennon fielded a makeshift Celtic side with teenagers Watt and Filip Twardzik handed their first starts as the Hoops made six changes.

However, the fringe players immediately impressed and took a third-minute lead when Victor Wanyama headed past Ryan Esson.

Watt, who scored a double on his debut as a substitute against Motherwell last season, got his first in the 25th minute when he clipped the ball over the keeper.

Charlie Mulgrew made it 3-0 in the 48th minute with a neat finish from a well-worked free-kick before Watt got his double with a rifled shot in the 64th minute.

Inverness rallied in the final ten minutes of the match with Ross Draper grabbing a double but it was little more than consolation for the hosts.

"That is as good as we have played here for a long time and I am delighted with the performance," Celtic manager Lennon said.

"Tony Watt was sensational. We threw the gauntlet down to him before the game and he responded brilliantly."

Terry Butcher was relieved not to have lost by more.

"We were delighted to get the two goals at the end when Celtic had taken their foot off the gas but at least we keep going," the Inverness manager said.

"For the rest of the game we were not at the races at al and lost to a much better side."

The result will boost the confidence of Celtic, who welcome Helsingborgs to Parkhead on Wednesday as they bid to make the group stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2008.

In a whirlwind start, Celtic took the lead in the third minute. Ryan Esson's stunning save to deny Gary Hooper earned the Hoops a corner and Adam Matthews whipped it in for Wanyama to head past Esson.

Celtic nearly doubled their lead in the seventh minute when captain Charlie Mulgrew sent a ferocious free-kick rattling off the crossbar from 25 yards out.

Inverness took their time to settle in the match but nearly drew level when Fraser Forster pulled off a superb save to stop Aaron Dorran's first-time strike from distance sneaking in.

However, the Hoops were not to de denied for long and Watt made it 2-0 in the 25th minute. The teenager took a pass from Twardzik just inside the Inverness half and turned Simon King before racing in on and lifting the ball over Esson.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Mulgrew put Celtic three in front.

Matthews played a short free-kick to the defender 14 yards from goal and he arrowed a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

The Inverness defence were struggling to cope with the pace and movement of Watt and he got his second of the match in the 64th minute.

Emilio Izaguirre's cross found Matthews at the back post and he teed up Watt who lashed the ball past the helpless Esson from six yards out.

The Hoops were denied a clean sheet when Draper pulled one back for Inverness in the 82nd minute as he raced on to a headed knock down to get in front of Mulgrew and fire low past Forster.

Draper got his second just four minutes later when he got on the end of Conor Pepper's through ball and finished at the second attempt past Forster.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sensational-watt-shines-double-celtic-164138793--sow.html

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