Rangers midfielder John Lundstram scored an own goal and was sent off as Celtic won 2-1 at Parkhead to take a huge step towards retaining their Premiership title.
Celtic surged six points and seven goals ahead of their city rivals with two games remaining, setting themselves positioned to win the first silverware of Brendan Rodgers’ second tenure in charge at Kilmarnock on Wednesday, assuming Rangers do not drop points at home to Dundee 24 hours earlier.
In the closing 10 minutes of the first half, Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and Lundstram scored twice, Cyriel Dessers equalised, and the Gers midfielder was sent off for a foul on Alistair Johnston.
Rangers struggled to contain O’Riley and Callum McGregor in midfield, despite creating many chances of their own in an action-packed first half.
O’Riley missed a penalty as Celtic struggled to finish the game with ten men, but the final whistle triggered a celebration.
Following injuries to Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun, Rangers manager Phlippe Clement gave Ben Davies his first start of 2024, while Todd Cantwell was replaced by Tom Lawrence.
Cantwell had remarked on social media that a caged bird cannot fly after being substituted in Rangers’ triumph over Kilmarnock, and it appeared that Clement had clipped his wings even further after being left on the bench throughout.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda returned to the starting lineup after an injury, with James Forrest moving to the right wing. It was only the second game this season that both wingers started, but they set the tone with an explosive start.
Within the first seven minutes, Forrest beat Borna Barisic, had a low cross pushed away, and threatened with two left-footed drives, one of which was turned over by Jack Butland. Maeda gained five yards to block James Tavernier’s dangerous attack and quickly raced past the Rangers skipper to win a corner.
Celtic continued to threaten on a frequent basis, while Rangers made only intermittent forays forward.
O’Riley curled a free-kick inches outside the post and sent a first-time effort wide from 22 yards from an excellent chance, while McGregor went close from long range numerous times.
Fabio Silva was at the heart of Rangers’ greatest efforts, setting up Dujon Sterling with a header and converting two chances himself. The winger could have performed better in both situations, dragging a shot wide and heading off target from close range.
Celtic got closer following a solid stretch of possession, but Butland saved superbly from Kyogo Furhashi.
The breakthrough happened in the 35th minute. Forrest provided McGregor’s run down the right channel, and the skipper checked and teed up O’Riley, who took a touch and hammered the ball inside the near post from 17 yards out.
Celtic went two up shortly after the restart when Maeda sprinted down the wing and produced a low cross that Lundstram turned into his own net. The Japanese attacker continued his run into the front two rows of the Lisbon Lions Stand, taking some time to recover from the celebrations.
They were still going when Dessers scored from close range after Sterling had headed Barisic’s ball back across goal.
The lifeline was squandered in stoppage time when Lundstram went overboard in an attempt to intercept a pass to Johnston, sliding in with power from a long distance and catching the fullback on the ankle. Referee Willie Collum issued a yellow card but changed the sentence after Steven McLean requested a VAR review.
Rangers were further disrupted at halftime when John Souttar replaced Ross McCausland, while Sterling returned to central defence.
They held on to optimism as they defended in numbers.
Butland saved O’Riley’s penalty after Mohamed Diomande clipped his heel, while Maeda had two goals disallowed for offside, and replacement Nicolas Kuhn was denied by Davies’ block after beating three men.
Rangers waited for a chance, but McGregor thwarted Scott Wright’s counter-attack, and Celtic successfully defended various crosses into the box before and after home substitute Adam Idah missed a sitter in a stoppage-time counterattack.
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