Take nothing away from Stafford, they are an excellent team, but on the night, Celtic were better and deserved their win.

From one end, where Charlie Monks pulled off a flying save to tip Remi Effunnuga’s angled drive over the bar, to the other end, where Andy Scarisbrick slid the ball through to Jack Irlam. He checked back to make space and smashed his shot in off the far post. Celtic were running the visitors ragged, out-competing across the park under the watchful eye of Dave Jones, the new manager. Irlam came close from Ellis Horan’s cross, and Scarisbrick couldn’t believe it when he beat two defenders and Leon Phillips, taking his shot, only to see Harvey Washington appear from nowhere to hack the ball off the line. Irlam came close from a free kick. To prove they deserve their 100% winning streak on the road, Stafford grabbed a goal back when Luka Navaro lifted the ball over the defenders and Darrhyl Mason turned the ball in from what looked like an offside position. The flag stayed down. Horan created three chances to put Celtic back in front before half-time, the best of which saw Phillips push the ball past the post for a corner.

Celtic started the second half on fire. Liam Tongue didn’t give up and fired a ball into a crowded box. Defenders and attackers vied for the ball, Lewis Rawsthorn getting the telling touch to restore Celtic’s lead. Just over ten minutes later and Scarisbrick hit a rocket, Phillips making an excellent save, but Rawsthorn pounced on the loose ball and doubled Celtic’s lead. Stafford kept looking like making a comeback, pressing hard, but Celtic came closest to scoring next, Aaron Chalmers smashing his header back off the bar from a corner, Irlam putting another set-piece the wrong side of the post, and Phillips denying Horan with a flying reaction save. Despite the pressure, Celtic kept Stafford at arms-length relying on Tom Tonks’s long throw and set-pieces which Celtic defended like heroes.