JERMAIN DEFOE has rounded off a crushing victory for Rangers over ten-man rivals Celtic.
Callum McGregor was sent off for the Bhoys on 26 minutes after the referee played advantage, allowing Kemar Roofe to put the Gers in front in the same phase of play.
But Celtic bounced back immediately with as Odsonne Edouard poked home from close range.
However, Alfredo Morelos soon restored Rangers’ advantage with a thunderous strike.
And Kemar Roofe bagged a brace in the second half to give Steven Gerrard’s men a two-goal cushion.
Defoe then had the final word as he twisted and turned through the Celtic defence to add a fourth.
UNBEATEN RUN REMAINS
Rangers are now odds-on to finish the league campaign unbeaten after today’s win.
An away game at Livingston followed by a home game with Aberdeen – where they will receive the trophy – are the only two assignments left to conquer.
TEARY ME!
Rangers star Alfredo Morelos appeared to taunt Celtic skipper Scott Brown in his final Old Firm clash.
The Hoops midfielder was withdrawn after an hour as he made his last derby appearance before his summer switch to Aberdeen.
Morelos scored a stunning goal for the Light Blues as he grabbed his second derby goal of the season.
The Colombian hitman nutmegged the veteran midfielder before cutting inside and smashing the ball beyond Scott Bain.
The duo are never quiet on the pitch and had their usual niggle at each other during the Ibrox clash.
Pictures show the pair exchanging words while another catches Morelos reacting towards the midfielder as he pointed towards his eyes.
READ MORE HERE
MAN-BYS
Our man Robert Grieve was at Ibrox today.
Here he runs the rule over this afternoon’s players and gives us his view.
RANGERS XI: McGregor 9, Tavernier 8, Goldson 8, Simpson 7, Barisic 7, Kamara 8, Davis 9, Aribo 8, Kent 9, Morelos 8, Roofe 8
SUBS: Wright 2, Hagi 2, Defoe 3
CELTIC XI: Bain 5, Kenny 6, Welsh 6, Ajer 7, Taylor 6, Brown 5, McGregor 2, Forrest 5, Turnbull 7, Elyounoussi 7, Edouard 5
SUBS: Soro 3, Christie 3, Johnston 2
REPORT
Our match report is now live on site.
Catch all the big moments from today’s final Old Firm of the season over on the Scottish Sun Football page.
Or, click here 👉 OLD FIRM MATCH REPORT
Kemar Roofe KENNEDY THOUGHTS
John Kennedy has blasted Nick Walsh for the decision to send Callum McGregor off.
Kennedy says he was told the first booking was for a ‘reckless tackle’ which he didn’t agree with.
It is a sore one. Going down to ten men puts us on the back foot but we still managed to create. Rangers were more clinical than us once again.
The red card is the turning point and yes he went to ground on a yellow card. But it’s the first yellow. We asked the referee what he booked him for and he said a reckless tackle. I didn’t see a reckless tackle. He is on his feet, making an attempt to play the ball. There is no consistency there. Red cards can happen but at least make the right calls.
We had to defend well and not open up too much and we forced them wide to defend crosses. In terms of possession, we did well even with ten men. We had to be brave and make chances which we did.John Kennedy
GERRARD THOUGHTS
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was delighted with Kemar Roofe’s involvement as he praised Nick Walsh’s performance.
It’s a big rivalry and an important game as I said before the game. It was a really strong performance and we needed Kemar, Alfredo and Ryan to be the difference for us and we have run away with it in the end.
From a team point of view, we strive for consistency. Kemar has had a mixed few weeks from a personal point of view and he certainly responded today. His all-round build-up play was strong and he played big for us today.
Playing ten men always makes it easier, I won’t lie. I thought the referee got the decisions right. We work for they moments and they have gone in our favour.Steven Gerrard
BAD MEMORIES REBORN
The year 2000.
The last season where Celtic didn’t win a single Old Firm clash.
DOUBLE UP
Kemar Roofe bagged a double for Rangers today and said he has been preparing for this game for a while.
Roofe has been frustrated at a lack of game time in recent weeks and produced the good today.
The result says it all! It was a big game for us as we have been down this weekend and disappointed. It’s important to remember we are champions and we had forgot about it as it was so long ago but today brought it back.
The last five to six weeks have been difficulty for me but I have been preparing for this game for a while. We won the league a long time ago and now it’s about trying to stay unbeaten. We always want to be playing for something.Kemar Roofe
FULL-TIME NUMBERS
The stats behind a big Rangers win over Celtic
Sky Sports
HOW WE STAND
Today’s result would have absolutely zero impact on the league placings.
But it does take Rangers three points closer to hitting the 100 point mark.
It also keeps that ‘0’ in the L column
FULL-TIME AT IBROX: RANGERS 4-1 CELTIC
Goals from Alfredo Morelos, Jermain Defoe and a Kemar Roofe double handed Rangers their biggest win over Celtic under Steven Gerrard.
Odsonne Edouard had equalised for Celtic earlier in the game after Callum McGregor was sent off for Celtic.
Reaction to come.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
FULL-TIME AT IBROX: RANGERS 4-1 CELTIC
RANGERS 4-1 CELTIC
90+2′ A slack pass out from the back and Rangers are in.
Hagi flicks it round the corner for Defoe who squares Welsh up inside the box.
He twists the youngster inside out and leaves him on his backside before coolly passing the ball beyond Bain with his left foot.
JERMAIN DEFOE CAPS AN EMPHATIC RANGERS WIN!
GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
THREE MINUTES ADDED
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
90′ Defoe is sent clean through but the flag is up.
He missed the opportunity anyway.
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
89′ Ajer again finds himself in an attacking role down the left but Celtic just can’t get through.
Davis tries to bring it away for Rangers but Johnston brings him down.
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
86′ Final Rangers change of the afternoon.
- OFF – Roofe
- ON – Defoe
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
83′ Morelos is down injured now and seems to be holding his hamstring.
He seemed set to be replaced anyway but will do so now.
- OFF – Morelos
- ON – Hagi
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
81′ A chance for Elyounoussi to make a game of it!
A ball in from the right is misjudged by Tavernier who gets caught underneath it.
Elyounoussi comes flying in at the back post but can’t get good contact on it and heads it wide from close range.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
80′ Good play from Rangers ends with Roofe picking the ball up on the Celtic edge with his back to goal.
He lays it off to Kent who sidefoots it straight at Bain.
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
79′ Great play again from Ajer!
He beats four Rangers tackles on the edge of the box before trying to pick out the top corner.
His final shot is rubbish and sent miles wide but it was excellent play!
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
78′ Barisic can’t continue and limps off the far side of the park.
Joe Aribo will fill in at left-back.
- OFF – Barisic
- ON – Wright
RANGERS 3-1 CELTIC
76′ It’s been really stop-start the last five minutes as fouls are given to both teams.
Barisic sends a ball down the line and goes down in a crumpled heap.
He needs treatment from the physio.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
