WHO would have dared dream Celtic could kill off this Champions League play-off against Astana in Glasgow meaning their supporters will be able to watch next Tuesday’s return on the couch rather than behind it?

This was an outstanding win, thanks to Scott Sinclair's double, James Forrest, Leigh Griffiths and an own goal, courtesy of a mature and utterly professional performance by Brendan Rodgers’s team.

And given that he was without key players, and forced to play Nir Bitton at the back, who didn’t put a foot wrong, and yet still his team won so comfortably will make him think they can have a Champions League campaign to remember.

The noise inside Parkhead was incredible. The Green Brigade were back and this time the banner read; We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over.” That’s more like it, boys.

And they will get to see their team – bar something ridiculous happening in Kazakhstan – in the group stages of the Champions League. That’s not bad, not bad at all.

As for the game, Astana actually began well and had their moments but by the end they were chasing shadows. Even when Celtic weren't quite themselves they always looked dangerous.

On seven minutes, Rogic ran at the Astana players who were unsure how to deal with him and this allowed the Australian on the stretch to shift the ball to Forrest. His cross was aimed at and picked out Griffiths, his spring took him above the rest but the striker’s header was just wide.

This was encouraging, but it would be wrong to say Celtic looked at their best. Too many passes were cut-out and Astana were in no rush to pass up possession when they had the ball.

This had the effect of quietening the crowd. You could almost taste the nerves and this was before 20 minutes had gone past. Nobody would have guessed at this stage the outcome

Astana pulled everyone back when Celtic had the ball, closed down and pressed high. On the touchline, Rodgers would have been reluctantly impressed.

The visitors' first shot came on 21 minutes and while the effort by Patrick Twumasi was a bit wild, his first touch and movement was superb. It was a warning. Another once came within seconds.

Jozo Simunovic lost the ball in an area no defender wants to cough up possession, Astana attacker Serikzhan Muzhikov got on it and sent a low awkward shot towards Craig Gordon which the keeper dealt with.

It didn’t help that a Griffiths run behind the yellow wall, which would have given him a clear run at goal, was wrongly called off offside.

However, on 32 minutes came a huge moment in Celtic’s season.

Lustig produced a superb pass through several Astana players, Rogic turned and ran at players in exactly the same manner which won his team the Scottish Cup Final, only this time his shot, a chip over goalkeeper Aleksandr Mokin wasn’t going in until Postnlkov got his boot to the ball and scored a needless own goal.

Cue a mix of delirium and relief, which was almost and should have been quashed within a minute when from a corner, Postnlkov, a giant of a man, got miles above everyone else only to put his header wide from seven yards.

The dear green place went back to delirium three minutes before the interval.

Rogic was probing and looking for an opening when he was tackled by Muzhikov who only succeeding in playing a ball through his own defence, which Sinclair anticipated, he raced in towards Mokin, kept his cool and placed his shot exactly where he needed to.

The question being asked at the break was how both sides would approach the second-half.

Celtic went with three at the back, Kieran Tierney and James Forrest asked to be wing-backs, while the men from Kazakhstan pushed up. Everything came off for the Glasgow men.

Griffiths wasn’t having a great night regarding the assistant’s flag, he was given offside twice after making good runs, but the No9 worked ever so hard without the ball.

And it was a brilliant piece of football by Griffiths which put his side 3-0 up on the hour.

Celtic have referee Ovidiu Hategan to thank in part because he allowed play go on when Yuri Logvinenko’s head clashed with Rogic who was brave in the air. The game continued despite both players lying on the ground, Griffiths was on the ball with two defenders beside him and while his instinct would have been to go on his own, he instead delayed a pass to Sinclair, which when executed was perfectly weighted, and the Englishman’s finish was perfect.

Neither Rogic or Logvinekno, who was booked, could carry on, Callum McGregor replacing his stricken team-mate who received a standing ovation.

Astana lost their discipline and Celtic played on that, content to win fouls and kill the game. It was a sensible move.

And then they killed the tie stone dead with 11 minutes to go.

Celtic retained possession for fun, Olivier Nthcam produced a sensational pass to Griffiths who not for the first showed real class to control, wait and then feed Forrest who once again came up with a huge goal for his team in Europe.

Griffiths deserved a goal himself and it came right at the death when this time he took on a shot himself and with the help of a deflection sent Celtic Park into raptures.

By then, Astana had long given up. They knew this tie was all over. This was all about Rodgers's Celtic.

What a night. What a team.