Key events
Celtic’s expected goals was just 0.07, for those of you that care about that sort of thing.
The only disappointing moment for Rangers was the incident in which Celtic’s Engels was hit by a coin thrown from the crowd. I think it might have hit the Belgian in the face, but he was OK to continue. I imagine there will be consequences for Rangers to face from the SFA.
Celtic’s lead is cut to 11 points. Surely that is too big a gap to make any meaningful difference to a ‘title race’. But the bragging rights are huge in Glasgow and the result will also buy Clement some brownie points going into 2025. The Belgian manager was under pressure coming into this match.
Full-time: Rangers 3-0 Celtic
What a result for the Ibrox faithful! The champions have been dominated!
90+5 min: Rangers make a triple change to waste a few seconds: Hagi, Raskin, and Igamane off for Cortes, Barron, and Dessers.
Raskin has been the best player on the pitch. He has responded to being given the captain’s armband by Clement. A supreme performance in central midfield, quality with and without the ball.
90+4 min: Engels finds some space on the right wing, behind Fraser, but his cross is more like a clearance, shanked woefully behind.
Nothing has come off for Celtic today, and even when they did have the ball in the net, Kyogo was flagged offside.
90+2 min: Glasgow-born Robbie Fraser comes on for Rangers, his first taste of the Old Firm derby. He replaces Jefté, who set up the third goal and has kept Kuhn deathly quiet in this game. Perhaps that elbow to Kuhn’s nose played its part.
90 min: Five minutes added on here. Rangers look more likely to add a fourth than Celtic get a consolation.
89 min: A break in play as, unfortunately, some Rangers fans have thrown some coins in the direction of Celtic players. Nobody is hurt, but after a delay, the referee hands the offending coins to a policeman on the sidelines.
87 min: Celtic have faced the most shots today (24) since records began in 2013-14 for this sort of thing. Their next highest conceded shot count is 18, also against Rangers in May 2021.
85 min: Brendan Rodgers looks glum and who can blame him? His team have lacked quality, urgency and desire. This will be just Rodgers’ second defeat in 21 derbies.
83 min: Ibrox is absolutely deafening. Rangers might be out of the title race, but this result means everything to the blue half of Glasgow.
GOAL! Rangers 3-0 Celtic (Danilo 81)
Danilo scores! Is that his first touch?! Jefte spring forward from left back and goes beyond Johnston, hits a cross shot which is blocked by Carter-Vickers but the ball falls kindly to Danilo on the penalty spot … and the Brazilian sideboots a one-touch finish underneath Schmeichel for three!
80 min: Rangers make their first change: Bajrami for Danilo.
78 min: What a chance for Rangers to make it three! Celtic throw bodies forward and are once again caught on the break. Igamane only needs to feed an easy pass wide for Cerny for Rangers to once again get in on goal, but the Moroccan woefully underhits his pass and Scales is able to intercept.
77 min: “Hi Michael, and Happy New Year!” emails Simon McMahon. “As warm up acts go, this is a half-decent game ahead of the main event at Dens Park later when the world famous Dundee United FC take on the noisy neighbours. United have made one change from the win against Aberdeen on Sunday, with Ross Docherty replacing David Babunski in midfield. It’s the first New Year Dundee derby since we scudded them 6-2 at Tannadice nine years ago. What I’d give for a repeat today. COME ON UNITED!!!”
75 min: Hatate comes off for Celtic after one of the worst individual performances I have seen in this derby. Celtic’s record signing, Arne Engels, comes on in midfield. Straight swap.
72 min: Idah has been very loose since coming on. He has failed to hold the ball up on three occasions since coming on. Celtic are yet to have a shot on goal in this second half.
70 min: Make that 19! Schmeichel gets down to his right after a nifty shot from range from Yilmaz. From the resulting corner, Rangers have a penalty shout and while the ball does strike Idah’s fist, it is close to his body and VAR waves play on.
68 min: Just to show Rangers’ dominance, they have had 18 shots on goal. Celtic have had three.
GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Celtic (Pröpper 66)
From a Rangers corner, Raskin has a free header on the six-yard box. Schmeichel saves with his feet, but Pröpper is there at the back post to clean up the rebound and sidefoot the ball into the net! You can’t say Rangers don’t deserve that!
64 min: Triple change for Celtic and it is long overdue. Kyogo, Taylor and Bernardo go off. Idah, Valle and McCowan are on.
61 min: Jefté nutmegs Kuhn, who responds by hacking the Rangers left back to the ground. Yellow card. Those two have been at it all game.
RANGERS HIT THE POST!
59 min: The second time Rangers have hit the woodwork. Hatate again dawdles in midfield and once again, Celtic are all at sea in transition. Taylor is completely out of position at left back and Raskin threads a beautiful through ball to the unmarked Cerny. The Czech is clean through, steadies himself and curls a shot off the inside of Schmeichel’s far post. The ball rebounds but Scales is there to hack it behind for a Rangers corner. The hosts should be 2-0 up!
55 min: Hagi is so two footed and is giving Johnston a torrid time on Rangers’ left flank. The winger drives a low, deflected cross across the six-yard box and Schmeichel punches clear. That could easily have found a man in blue.
GOAL DISALLOWED FOR CELTIC!
52 min: McGregor wins the ball back brilliantly for Celtic, and Bernardo finds Kyogo with a lofted through ball. The Japanese, who has been so quiet up to this point, takes the ball beautifully on his chest and volleys a looped finish over Kelly. But the linesman flags for offside and VAR upholds the decision!
49 min: For all their possession, Celtic do look vulnerable on the counter-attack. Igamane beats Scales to a clearance and suddenly it’s three on three at the back. But Bajrami is ponderous on the ball his ball to Hagi is behind the Romanian. Celtic get back in numbers and Hagi is forced into an optimistic shot from range, gathered easily by Schmeichel.
47 min: Celtic are looking much slicker. Twice Kyogo threatens to get in behind the makeshift Rangers defence but twice Sterling is there to cover. Normally a right back, the former Chelsea man Sterling has great pace and is physically imposing and that’s a real asset against this dainty Celtic attack.
Peeeeeeeeep! We’re off again at Ibrox after a 19-minute half-time. No changes from either side, which is a little surprising from a Celtic point of view.
Half-time reading:
Half-time: Rangers 1-0 Celtic
Some unsavoury scenes as the two captains, Raskin and McGregor, clash at the half-time whistle. Just handbags, though. Raskin ends up with a booking, which is a frustrating end to an excellent half for the Rangers man.
45+4 min: Celtic’s physio’s have patched up Kuhn’s nose and the cross comes in. Rangers defend the delivery but concede a corner, from which Hatate strikes fiercely at goal … saved by Kelly! Rangers’ stand-in keeper is alert at his near post!
45+2 min: A clumsy elbow from Jefté clatters Kuhn and earns the Brazilian a yellow card. Kuhn is left with a bloody nose. Replays show that it was accidental but that was a hefty whack. Celtic will have a dangerous free-kick to the right of the box to end the half.
45 min: There are two additional minutes and Rangers seem content to play safe and get into the dressing room 1-0 up.
