By Chris O'Brien
July 29 2006

Paul Scholes netted a brace as Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 drubbing of Glasgow Celtic. Young defender Jonathan Evans also found the net as the Red Devils eased to victory at Parkhead.

Paul Scholes netted twice as Manchester United secured an impressive 3-0 pre-season victory over Scottish Champions Celtic.

Sir Alex Ferguson named a weakened side for the trip to Parkhead, but the Red Devils encountered few problems against Gordon Strachan's men as they secured a confidence boosting victory in Glasgow.

United started with Ben Foster protecting a back four of Jonathan Evans, Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley and Patrice Evra. Scholes paired up alongside Darren Fletcher in the centre of midfield, whilst Lee Martin and Chris Eagles marshalled the flanks. Giuseppe Rossi partnered unlikely striker Kieran Richardson up front.

The visitors started strongly and were ahead after only eight minutes. Defender Evans did brilliantly to volley home a Kieran Richardson corner and give United the perfect start. The small away following inside the sparsely-filled Celtic Park had already started their Parkhead party!

A demoralised Celtic, fielding an under-strength side themselves, have had something of a disastrous pre-season. A cramped set of fixtures has seen the Bhoys win only one of seven games, including dissappointing results on a tour of Poland and of the United States. Their league season kicks-off on Saturday against Kilmarnock.

United's dominance continued throughout most of the opening period with Eagles and Richardson both going close. However, Foster had to be alert at the other end when he did brilliantly to block an Andy Thompson effort with his legs, before Aiden McGeady went agonisingly close to restoring parity on 40 minutes as he flashed a shot wide.

Celtic made three changes at the interval and the substitutions seemed to freshen them up slightly with Derek Riordan and Rocco Quinn both testing Foster only minutes after the break. Nevertheless, any hopes of a revival from the hosts was seemingly over on 61 minutes as Scholes opened his account and doubled United's advantage as he tapped home a Richardson free-kick.

United, who had introduced Liam Miller to the annoyance of the home support, took their foot off the pedal as the revolving door of substitutions was sparked into action. Darren Simpson, Paul McShane, Lee Gibson and David Jones were all introduced after the second goal.

Scholes secured his brace on 85 minutes as serious questions were raised of Celtic's backline. Artur Boruc spilled a close-range from Scholes and the SPL champions failed to close down the midfielder as he strokes home the rebound with ease. It was too much for one Celtic fan who confronted the players on the pitch in anger, but for United the strike completed an accomplished performance, with many of the club's younger players proving their worth to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Full Time - Glasgow Celtic 0-3 Manchester United

Glasgow Celtic: Boruc, Lawson, Caldwell (McManus 46), Varga, Camara; McGeady, Lennon, Sno, Thompson (Riordan), Zurawski (Quinn 46), Miller (Virgo 46)
Substitutes Not Used: Marshall, O’Dea, Telfer, Petrov, Wilson, Nakamura, Jarosik

Manchester United: Foster; Bardsley (Simpson 70), Brown (McShane 73), Evans, Evra; Eagles (Miller 53), Scholes, Fletcher (Gibson 70), Martin; Rossi, Richardson (Jones 77)
Substitutes Not Used: Steele