Scottish Premiership
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Ibrox Park, Glasgow

RANGERS… 1
(Aribo 69)

CELTIC… 0

A 10-man Celtic were left disappointed by a 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox this afternoon (Saturday). A confident first half performance was undone by a Joe Aribo header on 69 minutes, following Nir Bitton’s straight red card dismissal over the hour.

Ahead of kick-off, a minute silence was observed to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster and to honour the 66 Rangers fans who tragically lost their lives at the end of a match against Celtic in 1971.

After getting the match underway, the visitors pressed high in the opening stages as they sought to hem in the Rangers backline. On three minutes, a confident Callum McGregor burst from the middle third to slip in Odsonne Edouard to the left of goal, but, after a neat step-over, the Frenchman’s effort was blocked by Allan McGregor. A couple of minutes later and Jeremie Frimpong burst down the right channel, but his pacey advance was overrun for a by-kick.

The Hoops continued to exert pressure over the five-minute mark when David Turnbull came in off the inside-right channel to feed Leigh Griffiths, but goalkeeper McGregor did well to parry the striker’s deflected attempt from 18 yards with a strong right hand.

Celtic played much of their football deep within the home side’s half inside the opening quarter-hour, with Callum McGregor dominating play in the centre of the pitch. The champions’ next half-chance of the match, in fact, fell to the captain, when Turnbull switched play from right to left to find Griffiths near the by-line. He in turn laid the ball to the midfielder on the edge of the box, but his effort was dragged wide of the mark. Still, this marked yet another statement of intent as the Bhoys searched for an opener.

As the clocked neared 20 minutes, Rangers edged into the match with a spell of pressure that was capped off by a handful of crosses into the box. Tavernier looked especially dangerous in and around the goalmouth, but Celtic were quick to turn defence into attack on the counter. On 21 minutes, this saw Leigh Griffiths collect a loose ball on the edge of the opposition box, before sending a curling left foot off the outside of the keeper’s right-hand post.

Despite the unrelenting speed and intensity of their play, Celtic were tidy in possession and regimental in their pressing of the game. Both sides defended resolutely, maintaining a shape that proved difficult to break down – Diego Laxalt and Connor Goldson forced into last-ditch clearances at either end minutes before half-time – which saw the sides enter the break goal-less.

The Hoops maintained the vibrancy that carried them through the opening period into the second, while Ianis Hagi offered the home side fresh attacking options in place of Kemar Roofe. The first half-chance after the interval fell to the Romanian’s striking partner, Alfredo Morelos, who, after pouncing on a loose ball six yards from goal, had a side-footed attempt brilliantly blocked by Kris Ajer.

On 61 minutes, the visitors were dealt a blow when Nir Bitton was shown a straight red for bringing down Morelos 25 yards from goal. Neil Lennon responded with a change in personnel – swapping Leigh Griffiths for Shane Duffy and David Turnbull for Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Eight minutes later, Rangers made their man advantage count when they scored from a corner to break the deadlock, the ball taking a cruel deflection off Callum McGregor. On 74 minutes, Elyounoussi sent a volleyed effort over into the top netting, as the Hoops sought a way back into the match.

The introduction of Scott Brown, Hatem Elhamed, and Tom Rogic provided more fresh legs for the visitors, but the scoreline remained the same until the final whistle.

RANGERS: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Davis, Kamara, Aribo (Barker 93), Kent (Zungu 87); Roofe (Hagi 46), Morelos (Itten 77)
Subs not used: McLaughlin, Bassey, Defoe, Helander, Patterson

CELTIC: Barkas; Frimpong, Ajer, Bitton, Laxalt; Soro (Brown 72), Christie (Elhamed 72), McGregor (Rogic 84), Turnbull (Elyounoussi 65); Edouard, Griffiths (Duffy 65)
Subs not used: Hazard, Taylor, Ajeti, Ntcham

Derby disappointment as Celts suffer defeat at Ibrox