Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie scored his first senior hat-trick in over seven years, leading Bournemouth to a 4-0 Carabao Cup victory over Lincoln City at the Vitality Stadium. The 31-year-old's last treble came on the opening day of the 2019/20 season for Celtic in a 7-0 demolition of St Johnstone.
Christie completed his unlikely hat-trick in the 88th minute with a deflected 14-yard shot, assisted by Diakite. He had joined the match after returning from an injury. Bournemouth's other goal came deep in stoppage time from Rayan, who finished neatly from the corner of the six-yard box. The comprehensive win was the first for new head coach Marco Rose, who took over from Andoni Iraola this summer after Iraola's move to Liverpool.
How did the match unfold?
Bournemouth dominated from the outset. Fellow Scotland international and former Celtic player Ben Gannon-Doak started and had two early chances, seeing a curled effort deflect wide and later ballooning a long-range shot over. Defender James Hill came closest to breaking the deadlock earlier, smashing a 25-yard piledriver against the junction of post and crossbar. Summer signing Alvaro Rodriguez, who joined for a substantial fee, endured a frustrating full debut, heading inches wide from a Hill cross.
The pressure finally told with Christie's late double, sealing a performance that pleased his new manager. "It was a deserved win and a really good performance from the lads," Marco Rose told The Scotsman. "It was a top performance for 94 minutes and we had many shots on and off target."
What does this mean for Ryan Christie?
The hat-trick marks a significant personal milestone for Christie, who joined Bournemouth in 2021. Rose was full of praise for the midfielder's character and resilience. "Ryan is a nice guy. We really love him and he deserved it," Rose said. "He came back from an injury, worked hard and now he’s back in shape." His return to form comes at an opportune moment for Scotland, with new national team head coach Sebastien Pocognoli set to name his squad next week.
Where does Celtic stand currently?
While Christie's past feat with Celtic is noted, the current Celtic side is in imperious form. They sit first in the Premiership with a perfect record of five wins from five games, amassing 15 points. Brendan Rodgers' team has scored 13 goals and conceded just three, giving them a commanding +10 goal difference and a three-point lead over second-placed Heart of Midlothian. Their most recent result was a 2-1 away win over St Mirren on September 5th, extending their winning run to five matches.
This strong start is all the more impressive given several key absences. The club's current injury list includes Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Kasper Høgh, Kieran Tierney, and Jota, details of which are tracked on the club's injuries page. Fans can follow the team's progress in the standings as they prepare for a key fixture.
What is next for Celtic?
Attention now turns to the first derby of the league campaign. Celtic's next match is at home against Rangers on September 20th. Their city rivals currently sit fourth in the table, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash at Celtic Park. The full schedule for this busy period is available on the club's fixtures page. A victory would maintain their perfect start and extend their lead at the summit of Scottish football.
