Celtic’s relentless pursuit of the Scottish Premiership title showed no signs of slowing down as they steamrolled Motherwell 4-0 at Celtic Park. The Hoops’ clinical performance was a stark contrast to Aberdeen’s continued struggles, with the Dons suffering a demoralizing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Kilmarnock.
Celtic’s Commanding Performance
The league leaders had to bide their time against a stubborn Motherwell defense in the first half. But the floodgates opened on the stroke of halftime when Arne Engels converted from the spot after Aston Oxborough was penalized for colliding with Yang Hyun-jun in the box.
Celtic never looked back from there. Daizen Maeda doubled the advantage after the break before substitutes Nicolas Kühn and Reo Hatate got in on the act to seal an emphatic victory. It was an ominous display from Ange Postecoglou’s side, who look unstoppable in their title defense.
Aberdeen’s Nightmare Continues
While Celtic marched on, Aberdeen’s season went from bad to worse at Rugby Park. The Dons are now winless in seven matches after a dismal showing against Kilmarnock.
Kyle Vassell opened the scoring for Killie in the 19th minute before David Watson headed home just before the hour mark. Late goals from substitutes Innes Cameron and Bruce Anderson completed the rout, piling the pressure on under-fire Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin.
Crucial Wins for Ross County and Hibernian
At the other end of the table, Ross County picked up a vital three points with a convincing 3-0 victory over Dundee at Dens Park. Goals from Noah Chilvers, Josh Nisbet, and Jordan White lifted the Staggies to 10th place, while consigning Dundee to a fourth straight defeat.
In the Edinburgh derby, a dramatic late winner from veteran striker Dwight Gayle handed Hibernian a 2-1 triumph over rivals Hearts at Tynecastle. The result was Hibs’ first away win in this fixture for exactly five years and a major boost for manager David Gray.
I’m delighted. I think you see that with the scenes at the end. It’s a real difficult place to come, history tells you that.
– David Gray, Hibernian manager
United Climb to Fourth
Elsewhere, Sam Dalby’s ninth goal in 11 matches secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win for Dundee United at St Johnstone. Glenn Middleton had leveled for United early in the second half after Makenzie Kirk gave the hosts the lead. The result propels United up to fourth in the standings.
As the festive fixtures continue to come thick and fast, Celtic look increasingly likely to retain their crown. But the battle for European places and the fight to avoid the drop remain as competitive as ever in this unpredictable Scottish Premiership season.
