Match Reports

country flag Premiership Round 4
Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers
Sun 02 September 2018 12:00

Celtic

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Unused Substitutes
Player. Rat. Pos. No.
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Substitutes
Min. Rat. Pos. No.
Ryan Jack 81 Glenn Middleton 15
Ryan Kent 87 Daniel Candeias
Unused Substitutes
Player. Rat. Pos. No.

Game Report

Highlights

Celtic powered their way to a dominant Old Firm win against Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday. Olivier Ntcham's goal on 62 minutes was enough to down a lethargic Rangers, whilst Celtic rattled the woodwork four times throughout the contest. Rangers only started to trouble Celtic defensively in the final 20 minutes, but the Hoops were comfortable and will be wondering how this wasn't won by more goals.

Detail

Celtic started well on top, but didn't overly trouble Rangers despite their possession. Tom Rogic was struggling to get into the game, with a lot going through Kieran Tierney.

Rangers could barely get out of their own half whatsoever in the first half. Nikola Katic in particular was poor with his distribution, sending many loose passes wayward. Kyle Lafferty and Alfredo Morelos often had to track back, and were just committing fouls when they did.

The best chances for the Hoops came a fair chunk into the half. James Forrest rattled a sensational half-volley off the cross-bar, before Lustig looped a header onto the bar also. Odsonne Edouard was next to be denied as he sent a close-range header straight at Allan McGregor.

It was as feisty an Old Firm match as anyone could expect, but somehow Rangers got to half-time still level thanks to a terrific defensive display.

In the second half, it was clear that Rangers were looking to press higher than they did in the first. Yet, still, Lafferty and Morelos did nothing whilst the likes of Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria stayed deep.

Yet, ironically, it was on a rare foray forward that Rangers would be punished. Ryan Jack lost the ball to Rogic on the edge of the Celtic box, starting a terrific counter-attack that involved Edouard and James Forrest. The latter played a square ball that Ntcham gleefully buried.

Brendan Rodgers brought on Leigh Griffiths and Ryan Christie, and they added more energy to Celtic. Griffiths rattled the post, whilst Christie won a free-kick late on that his fellow sub rattled off McGregor.

Yet Rangers were getting forward more in the final 20 minutes. Borna Barisic and James Tavernier were getting some deliveries into the penalty area, but truth be told they were poor ones.

Morelos bullied Dedryck Boyata off the ball before cutting in and firing straight at Craig Gordon. Afterwards, Tavernier sent a lashing right-footed effort flashing just wide of the post.

In the end, Rangers couldn't penetrate Celtic enough as the Hoops controlled the game until the death.

Summary

Celtic were dominant, but just couldn't add to their one goal in the end. The Hoops dominated in the midfield with Ntcham and Scott Brown putting in terrific performances, whilst Boyata at the back was colossal. It was a day where everyone performed to their fullest and everything just clicked for Celtic. Rangers were extremely negative in their approach, and it set a tone for the game. Despite playing with Lafferty and Morelos up top, the midfield was too non-existent, and it meant the forwards had to drop deep. When they did come out they troubled Celtic to a slight extent, but Rangers can be pleased with their defending from Connor Goldson and Katic. In the end, however, this was ultimately a flat display and a big disappointment for Steven Gerrard.

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