Following last weekend’s Scottish Cup embarrassment, Pedro Caixinha made three changes to his starting XI with Clint Hill, Josh Windass and Joe Dodoo replacing David Bates, Andy Halliday and Joe Garner in a 4-3-1-2 formation.
After a frenetic start, Celtic were awarded an 6th minute penalty when Myles Beerman fouled Patrick Roberts inside the area. John Beaton didn’t appear sure of what was going on before taking advice from his assistant and pointing to the spot. Scott Sinclair stepped up and coolly sent Wes Foderingham the wrong way and put Celtic in front.
Ten minutes later it was 2-0. Armstrong’s ball played Griffiths in behind the walkabout Tavernier and the ex-Hibs man fired a left-foot shot high into the net. Wes Foderingham could have maybe done a bit better after getting a hand to it but had no help from his defence at all.
It could have been three not long after when, after a quick counter, Griffiths rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box with Foderingham well beaten.
Just on the stroke of half-time Kenny Miller had Rangers’ best chance of the half when he fired wide from outside the penalty box, sending Gordon scrambling across goal.
Within seconds of the restart Celtic almost had another; a quick counter after Clint Hill gave the ball away ended with McGregor having a shot just a few yards out but Foderingham got down well to touch it round the post.
Brendan Rodgers’ side then got a deserved third on 53 minutes. Rangers gave the ball away in midfield allowing Celtic to push forward in numbers before Roberts slid in McGregor who fired through Tavernier’s legs and low beyond Foderingham.
Before long it was four. Griffiths free-kick on the right was met by Boyata a few yards out and the defender headed through the static Foderingham’s legs. The ex-Swindon keeper should have dealt with it long before Boyata got his head on the ball but decided not to come off his line and was punished for it.
Martyn Waghorn had a great chance just after 70 minutes when he headed wide after Josh Windass’ shot was blocked in the area by Boyata. Waghorn should have at least got his header on target but failed to even do that.
With ten minutes left Kenny Miller grabbed what would only be a consolation goal after playing a nice one-two then slotting the ball underneath Craig Gordon.
Lustig made it 5-1 at the death with a really nice finish from the edge of the area to cap off an utterly pathetic performance from the Light Blues.
Rangers: Foderingham, Tavernier, Wilson, Hill, Beerman, Windass, Holt, Hyndman (Garner 56’), Waghorn, Dodoo (Halliday 46’), Miller
Subs: Alnwick, McKay, Forrester, Bates, O'Halloran
Goals: Miller 80’
Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney, McGregor, Brown (Eboue Kouassi 89’), Armstrong (Rogic 76’), Roberts (Forrest 71’), Sinclair, Griffiths
Subs: De Vries, Gamboa, Sviatchenko, Bitton,
Goals: Sinclair 7’, Griffiths 17’, McGregor 52’, Boyata 66’, Lustig 87’