Before every match there will always be a pundit or commentator that highlights the quality and options that Ange Postecoglou has sitting on the Celtic bench.
Usually around the 70 minute mark, as opponents are starting to feel the impact of Celtic’s relentless pressing you can expect to see three primed substitutes about to inflict some further damage.
Yesterday’s match was a bit tighter than usual, leading 1-0 at half-time through an opportunist strike from Daizen Maeda.
Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate and Hyeon-gyu Oh came off the bench in the 63rd minute and contributed four goals that crushed St Mirren to take Celtic into the last eight of the Scottish Cup.
Hatate turned out to be a very competent penalty taker, putting Celtic 2-0 in front in the 76th minute.
There was some very impressive build up play to Celtic’s third goal, Trevor Carson couldn’t hold Callum McGregor’s shot with Oh popping in the third goal from the distance that all strikers love.
O’Riley was very composed as he fired home Celtic’s fourth, from his reaction the wait for his first goal of the season had been weighing on his mind.
Hatate completed the scoring with a brilliant finish that the Celtic TV camera struggled to keep up with.
The VAR checking possible banner yesterday was a hoot. I’d like to see it back for the cup final mind, VAR checking mistaken identity… VAR decision…You’re not rangers anymore