Celtic boss Ronny Deila hails his team's 8-1 victory over Hamilton
Wednesday 20 January 2016 08:55, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila praised his team's appetite and aptitude after the 8-1 thrashing of Hamilton in Scottish Premiership.
Mikael Lustig, Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic scored in the opening 10 minutes at Celtic Park before Leigh Griffiths hit two more goals before the break.
Griffiths completed his treble a minute after James Forrest got on the scoresheet and Callum McGregor added the eighth goal in the final seconds of the match.
Deila is confident it was the biggest margin of victory of his managerial career - "I think so, I can't remember better" - and he praised his players for keeping their momentum going after the points were effectively secured so early in the game.
And the victory means Celtic have opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table over nearest challengers Aberdeen.
"It was a fantastic night, a very good performance. We scored a lot of goals and could have scored more so I am very pleased with the boys," Deila said.
"We deserved eight and we could have had much more, we had so many more chances. You always want games like this and I am very pleased.
"It is always hard to keep up the tempo and intensity when you are 3-0 up after 10 minutes but we did that very well.
"We looked sharp. I saw it in training that we have looked better and better and today you could see what kind of tempo we can play at if we play at our best.
"We have kept in going since June 20 and since Christmas we had some weeks with training and rest and now you see more energy in the team."
Hamilton player-manager Martin Canning vowed to battle on after his biggest defeat since taking the job a year ago.
Accies have now gone eight matches without a win and are sitting above 11th-placed Kilmarnock on goal difference.
Asked if he was confident that will be allowed to get Hamilton out of trouble, Canning said: "We need to wait to see what happens.
"As long as I am doing it, I will be fighting, and continue to do the best I can. Obviously it hurts, I am hurting more than anybody, I can assure you.
"I am gutted, when you lose goals in that manner and concede three goals in 10 minutes, you are giving yourself no chance.
"We didn't have enough leadership to pull us together when we needed it.
"It is so frustrating but what I have to keep thinking is that this performance and result against Celtic, as much as it hurts, our season won't be defined by it but we have to make sure we bounce back in Sunday."
