Patrick Roberts and Ryan Christie netted doubles as Celtic beat Dunfermline 4-1 in the Development League.
Ronny Deila used the Development League in it’s true context to give a number of top team hopefuls game time.
Tom Rogic and Charlie Mulgrew anchored the midfield while the three attacking midfield roles were taken up by Christie, Scott Allan and Roberts playing in support of Paul McMullan.
All four of Celtic’s goals came in the first half with the ability of the three attacking midfielders catching the eye. Watching from the touchline the trickery and pace of Roberts was impressive during the first half with Allan almost a match for the Manchester City teenager in the second period.
There were early signs that Celtic’s pacey attack would trouble the visitors before Roberts opened the scoring in the 10th minute.
Allan picked out the 19-year-old coming in off the right flank with a great diagonal ball, the on-loan Man City kid took the ball on the run then drilled an unstoppable left foot effort high into the net.
Four minutes later Christie doubled Celtic’s lead chesting the ball home from close range after Roberts had burst down the right flank.
Some dogged defending kept Celtic at bay but on the half hour mark Celtic increased their lead through Christie. The former Caley Thistle midfielder raced forward, played a wall pass with McMullan then sent a low 20 yard shot into the corner of the net.
Two minutes later Roberts was again on the scoresheet, netting with an outrageous chip from 15 yards out that flew high over the bemused Pars keeper who stood rooted to the ground.
After the break Celtic weren’t as sharp around goal with Christie and Roberts passing up chances to grab a hat-trick.
In the 53rd minute Christie failed to connect properly with an Allan cut back- 30 seconds later the Fifers raced up the park and scored.
For the watching Deila there was plenty to take from the outing as the good news came through from Inverness.
CELTIC: Doohan; Wardrop, Kelleher, Blackett, Waters; Rogic, Mulgrew; Roberts (Hendry 75), Christie, Allan; McMullan
SUBS: Hazard, McIlduff, Miller, McCart
DUNFERMLINE: Gill,Rooney, Morrison, Orru, Martin, Wallace, McCabe, Byrne, McClair, Hopkirk, Crossan
SUBS: Galloway, Crawford, Horne, Henderson, Thomas,Duncan,Dunn