Key events
And that’s where I’ll leave you today. Here’s Ewan Murray’s report from Parkhead, where Celtic edged a competitive Old Firm derby to reaffirm their status as title favourites, despite added Rangers resistance.
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More from McGregor:
“The boys stuck together, you have to defend sometimes in these games and that’s what we did.
“There will be more twists and turns before the end of the season, so we’ve just got to get back on the horse and keep doing it.”
Paulo Bernardo is named the Player of the Match for his special opening goal.
Some reaction from Callum McGregor on Sky Sports:
“It’s a derby game, the table is tight, so these games at home are pivotal if you want to win the league. We try and set examples as senior players, the young boys look to us to drive them forward. To a man, the guys were outstanding.
“It was a good time to score, we started to get on top of the game and you have to score when you’re on top. And what a way to score. It was a great finish.”
Our Premier League clockwatch is under way and about to get serious.
There were wild celebrations at Celtic Park after the full-time whistle.
🗣️ “It’s a happy new year to the men in hoops!”
Celtic beat 10-man Rangers to extend their lead to eight points – having played two more games. Thoughts on the match? 🔽 pic.twitter.com/BiZBc81MZS
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 30, 2023
“He’s a special player. It doesn’t matter about form, class is permanent,” says Neil Lennon on the matchwinner, Kyogo.
That strike was worthy of winning any match, for sure, and it puts Celtic eight points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit, albeit Rangers have two games in hand. Nothing is settled after today’s contest at Celtic Park but it might be the shot in the arm the Bhoys needed after an indifferent spell of form.
FT: Celtic 2-1 Rangers
It’s all over! Celtic have clung on, just about, against the 10 men of Rangers. Two sumptuous strikes, first from Paulo Bernardo and then from Kyogo Furuhashi are ultimately the difference as Brendan Rodgers’ side put a dent in the title ambitions of their rivals.
Philippe Clement suffers his first ever defeat as Rangers manager after a brilliant unbeaten run at the start of his tenure, with the visitors battling to a late consolation through James Tavernier.
More analysis and reaction to come.
90 mins +8: We’re past the allocated added time period as the two sets of players come to blows once more. Goldson is involved and yellow carded. Free-kick to Rangers, which they will launch long.
90 mins + 6: O’Riley is down on the ground again. Gamesmanship or a genuine concern? You’d expect the added time period to be extended because of it, either way. Brendan Rodgers cuts a rather tense and fidgety figure in his technical area.
90 mins +4: Celtic demand a penalty for a push but VAR and the referee both say no.
90 mins + 3: Johnston man-handles McCausland within the laws of the game to see out a goal-kick for Celtic and some respite.
They should have seen this out easily, but they continue to give the ball away in their own half. Dowell shoots over with his left foot when he ought to have crossed.
90 mins + 1: It’s a little greedy from the substitute Abada as he chooses to shoot rather than play a simple pass, and Butland can save without much difficulty.
Tension has set in around Celtic Park as Rangers go forward once more. They’ve got a corner.
90 mins: As we head into added time, there’s a sense of purpose about Rangers all of a sudden. They’ve done very little in this second half but that goal gives them an unexpected lifeline.
We shall have eight added minutes. My word. It’s chaos now.
GOAL! Celtic 2-1 Rangers (Tavernier, 88)
It does go in! James Tavernier from a free-kick!
He’s had a pretty woeful day, especially with his set piece delivery, but this one is inch-perfect, curling under the crossbar and beyond Joe Hart. Barely a celebration; just a grab of the ball and a spring back to halfway. Game on?
87 mins: And once again a Celtic player is booked. A cynical tug of Dessers’ shirt brings the yellow for Nawrocki and provides yet another chance for Tavernier at a set piece. This has to go in for Rangers to stand a chance.
85 mins: How many opportunities does Dessers want today? He squanders another one after acres of space again open up for the striker.
McCausland then wins a free-kick and it’s yet another Celtic yellow card, this one going to McGregor.
83 mins: Excellent goalkeeping from Butland to deny Kyogo at the near post, before a belated flag goes up which means he was offside in any case.
And that’ll be Kyogo’s last action of the game as he trudges off to a rapturous reception.
Liel Abada, Oh Hyeon-Gyu and Mikey Johnston are all coming on for Celtic.
82 mins: The Olés have started from the Celtic fans as their side patiently keeps possession.
80 mins: O’Riley is robbed on the edge of the Rangers box by Sterling who then embarks on a lung-busting run and is taken down by Turnbull, who gets a booking for his troubles.
Rangers’ issue is that they don’t have enough numbers when they go forward. They’re stretched.
This is the reason Celtic feel so comfortable in their 2-0 lead.
77 mins: Johnston’s early cross from the right looks to pick out Kyogo, who makes a terrific run towards the near post and tries to steer a volley at goal. Rangers are choosing to go direct, probably a wise tactic given their numerical disadvantage.
75 mins: A first opening for Turnbull as he turns and shoots inside the box, but it’s a rather scuffed effort that’s straight at Butland.
Celtic want a third here, and you wouldn’t be surprised if they got one.
72 mins: There have been one or two decisions today that have gone against Rangers and they can rightly quibble with. Not that sending off, though, clear as day.
John Souttar is going to come on to plug the hole in the visitors’ defence. They’ve really wilted in this second half.
RED CARD! Balogun (Rangers)
Leon Balogun is off! He’s the last man and he hauls down Maeda after a clever pass from Kyogo. That’s surely Rangers done and dusted.
70 mins: The stop-start nature of this second half has very much benefitted Celtic. It looks like Rodgers is going to replace Bernardo, who has been booked of course and running the risk of a red card.
David Turnbull comes on.
68 mins: It takes an age for Tavernier to take the free-kick … and it’s a huge anti-climax when he does, hitting it tamely into the wall. Another chance passes Rangers by, as Cantwell is jeered off by the Celtic fans, with Dowell his replacement.
65 mins: Rangers have a free-kick in Tavernier Territory. Sound the alarm.
Kieran Dowell is about to come on, while Sima gets some attention after an elbow in the face from Johnston. Accidental, I think.
64 mins: There’s a right old tangle between Bernardo and Goldson, and the Celtic player really should be booked for that challenge – and it would have been a second yellow. VAR can only check for straight reds, of course.
62 mins: The next 10 minutes really represent ‘now or never’ territory for Rangers. They simply must do everything in their power to pull one back, or another Old Firm derby will slip away from their grasp.
61 mins: Celtic fans are bouncing in the stands, but Rangers continue to threaten. Dessers fires into the side netting after being slipped through in the inside-left channel.
59 mins: O’Riley is back on after a change of kit, which had been bloodied.
McCausland almost slips in Yilmaz with Rangers on the font foot again, as Tavernier’s headed cross is knocked clear by the home side. More frustration for Rangers as Dessers is booked trying to stop the counter.
56 mins: O’Riley has suffered a broken nose and the treatment he requires is fairly extensive. Celtic are down to 10 while the medics tend to him.
It’s worth watching this again.
53 mins: O’Riley took a bash to the head there and may need a minute and some attention.
Gillian Kirby emails in: “Surprised Todd Cantwell is playing today give his alter ego Conor Gallagher also appears to be in Chelsea’s lineup. You never see them on the same pitch, do you? David Icke needs to get onto this one pronto!”
52 mins: Taylor is drifting inside from left back to take up some dangerous central positions, supplementing the midfield.
Finally, Rangers launch it forward on the counter but Cantwell cannot link up with Dessers. Some respite, at least, for the visitors.
50 mins: Someone tell Rangers the second half has started. Celtic can smell blood here.
49 mins: Rangers will feel absolutely sick at this scoreline. They’ve had their moments, but Celtic have scored two brilliant goals and have been far more ruthless.
GOAL! Celtic 2-0 Rangers (Kyogo, 47)
Stunner, absolute stunner! Kyogooooo!
Rangers are caught a bit cold at the back and leave far too much space for the Japanese forward to collect and then fire into the top corner with his weaker left foot, after a shimmy to give himself a yard. Huge moment.
Second half: We’re back under way at Celtic Park.
Rangers couldn’t have hoped for more opportunities, especially on the counterattack, in that half. They’ve created more. Four or five really good moments where they’ve lacked a finishing touch.
The difference, Celtic scored during their period of dominance.
— Joshua Barrie (@JoshuaBarrieRR) December 30, 2023
I’m off for an Irn-Bru and a half-time sit-down. What a ridiculously jam-packed, high-tempo half of football.
A prediction for the second half: It won’t stay at 1-0.
HT: Celtic 1-0 Rangers
And breathe. The half finishes, strangely, with the ball in Celtic’s net, although the whistle had gone well before as the referee spotted a Rangers push as they took a set-piece.
A very watchable half of football comes to a close, with neither side giving an inch. Paulo Bernardo’s classy volley is the difference but it’s been a very even contest, high-octane, with chances at both ends. Celtic have been loose at the back at times, but sharp down their left.
Todd Cantwell is my player of the half, but Rangers fans will feel he can produce a little bit more from his No 10 role, such is his ability.
We’re into a couple of added minutes on the end of this first half.
Rangers are probing for an equaliser.
44 mins: It was accidental but Johnston did seem to slap the ball with his hand. Cantwell is then in the middle of a fracas of sorts on the far side.
Tempers are fraying just a tad as half-time approaches.
43 mins: Hart denies McCausland! Agsin the youngster finds space on the right wing and drills a shot across the bows of the keeper, who outstretches a strong right hand.
VAR is checking a possible handball by Celtic’s Alistair Johnston. Check complete. Hmm … I’ve seen those given.
41 mins: Nawrocki’s first action is to time a sliding tackle to stop Sima in his tracks. He got enough of the ball.
It brings a corner, which Cantwell sends into the mixer, and Celtic whack well clear to safety.
40 mins: Dessers is penalised as Celtic once again play some dicey passes around the back, inviting the press. They could get themselves into serious trouble.
38 mins: Another big chance for Rangers and again it comes from a Celtic mistake at the back! Miscommunication allows McCausland in, but should do better with his finish …
It then quickly comes out to Cantwell who does at least get a shot at goal, but it’s easily smothered by Joe Hart.
Rangers could easily get something here.
37 mins: Matt O’Riley has been truly masterful in the Celtic midfield; you can see why his signature is coveted by a number of clubs in the upcoming January transfer window. He and Callum McGregor have begun to dictate things for the Bhoys.
35 mins: As play pauses for Stephen Welsh to get some treatment, the camera stops to focus on Cyriel Dessers, who will still be rueing that opportunity, you’d think.
Welsh won’t be able to carry on. Polish U21 international Maik Nawrocki is on in his place.
33 mins: There’s no relenting from Celtic here as they work another opportunity down that productive left channel.
At the other end it suddenly opens up for Dessers who seems to think he’s got all afternoon to set himself and pick a spot … in the end he dithers and doesn’t get a shot away at all. Goodness me that was a huge chance. So poor from Dessers.
