THE numbers continue to make for impressive reading for Celtic. The figures were all in their favour against last night as they celebrated their 30th domestic game unbeaten with a Scottish Cup semi-final date after a comfortable 3-0 win over Dundee United. 

What the sum total of this run is will be added up in trophies at the end of the season. But for the moment Ange Postecoglou looks to have found a winning formula as Celtic, with a League Cup already banked this season, sit top of the league and prepare for another Hampden bow. 

The Greek-Australian is inevitably coy on any talk of domestic trebles but he will be quietly satisfied that this was game negotiated with little drama following a goal in the opening stages of each half from Callum McGregor – with a little help of a deflection – and Giorgos Giakoumakis – with the help of a howler from Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist. The Greek forward then added a third with two minutes of time remaining to round off a game where Celtic were rarely troubled in a defensive context.  

There was a surprise when the team lines emerged when neither Jota nor Liel Abada made the squad. The Portuguese winger had a knock while Abada was ill. Both, however, are expected to return for the game against Ross County this weekend. 

It meant Daizen Maeda going out wide with Giakoumakis returning through the middle. The Japanese internationalist caused a collective intake of breath with one early  outrageous effort as he swung on a looping effort from the left that landed on the roof of Benjamin Siegrist’s net. 

In between times, though, United had started with some intent. It would soon fade given the hold that Celtic took on the game with the goals coming at key stages.  

There was a Nicky Clark free-kick chipped into the box after McGregor had been guilty of a foul and then Marc McNulty had the home support roaring for an unlikely penalty after he tangled with Carl Starfelt. Referee John Beaton was unimpressed with the shirt-pulling that had gone on before McNulty theatrically hit the deck but it was not for the first time in the game that the whistler found himself the focal point of attention. 

A Reo Hatate challenge on Dundee United fullback Kieran Freeman, both feet of the ground as he steamed into the player with studs showing brought forth a booking, much to the chagrin of the Tannadice support who felt that it had been reckless given the pace at which he had gone into the tackle. 

Next up was a second goal denied to Celtic that ought to have stood. Josip Juranovic showcased his class with a rampaging run down the right before he cut the ball across the six -yard box where Giakoumkais was judged to have handled before Maeda pushed the ball into the back of the net from an acute angle. 

Changes in legislation from IFAB this summer mean that any incident deemed to be accidental should not be penalised but despite the protests there was no swaying from the decision to chop the ‘goal’ off.  

Before all that had played out, Celtic had been first to claim blood as a clever short corner from Matt O’Riley was ushered to the feet of James Forrest. The winger passed the ball to the feet of McGregor who rifled a low angled effort from the edge of the box that whizzed through a ruck of players, took a deflection off of Clark and ended up in the back of the net. 

It was the first shot on target for the Parkhead side and gave them solid ground. United did not really put Celtic under any serious pressure – a Ryan Edwards effort that lifted over the bar was the only real moment of note - yet the incident with Hatate and Freeman would have altered the balance of the game. 

As it was both teams went into the break with a sense of grievance; United over the incident and Celtic irked at a second goal that would have made life more comfortable.  

There was no real surprise to see Hatate replaced at the break with Tom Rogic assuming his role.  

As United came looking to get back on level terms there was a brief moment at the start of the second period where the game looked to open up.  

Any ambitions United had, however, were short-lived as Celtic doubled their advantage just before the hour mark with a moment that the normally reliable Siegrist will baulk at. The stopper allowed a routine cross from Maeda to squirm out of his reach and fall kindly for Giakoumakis to show a poacher’s instinct to pounce and prod the ball over the line. 

With the game won, Celtic took firm control. There was a half chance from Greg Taylor that Siegrist held before Postecoglou rang the changes with a trio of changes. 

Karamoko Dembele, the club’s second youngest debutant in their history, made an appearance alongside James McCarthy and Mikey Johnston as Celtic saw the game out. Dembele almost marked the occasions with a goal but as his shot looked to be sliding wide Giakoumakis was alert to nick a touch and turn it past Siegrist and into the net.  

It rounded off a comfortable night’s work for Postecoglou’s side.