CELTIC went top of the Scottish Premiership tonight with a rousing 3-0 win over Old Firm rivals Rangers.
New signing Reo Hatate scored a brilliant double and Liel Abada scored a third to send the Hoops one point clear of their enemies.
- Start time: 7.45pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event
- Celtic XI: Hart; 88. Juranovic, 20. Carter-Vickers, 4. Starfelt, 3. Taylor; 42. McGregor, 41. Hatate, 33. O’Riley; 11. Abada, 17. Jota, 7. Giakoumakis
- Rangers XI: McGregor; 2. Tavernier, 6. Goldson, 3. Bassey, 31. Barisic; 18. Kamara, 37. Arfied, 17. Aribo; 14. Kent, 9. Diallo, 25. Roofe
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Celtic top of the table
What a night it’s been for Parkhead fans.
A 3-0 win over fierce rivals Rangers in the Old Firm derby.
And the result sends Celtic ahead of their fellow Glaswegians to the top of the Scottish Premiership.
That’s all from us at SunSport this evening, thank you for joining us and have a great night.
Credit: Kenneth Ramsay Credit: Getty Van Bronckhorst speaks
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has given a very frank assessment of Rangers’ dismal 3-0 defeat at Celtic.
He said: “It’s very disappointing, if you start an Old Firm game like this, you know what it will do.
“It seemed like we were not ready for it, the way we gave the goals away, no sharpness, I think it was unbelievable.
“Our game started in the second half, we were much better, but the first half we gave the game away.
“It wasn’t something I expected when I saw the training we had, the focus before the game.
“We were too naive and we deserved to be down 3-0 with the way we played.”
Ange on Hatate
Postecoglu added: “He was great [Hatate]. Hard pressed for me to single out people.
“That first half was outstanding. Reo will get better as he is nowhere near fit yet, it’s only his third game.
“We have changed our whole team and have some quality players unavailable.”
NINTCHDBPICT000708992624Credit: Kenneth Ramsay
Hat’s the way
Reo Hatate scooped the man of the match award with two goals and an assist tonight.
But more importantly, he has won the praise of both captain McGregor and boss Postecoglu.
McGregor said: “He’s been first class. Similar impact to Kyogo, he looks hungry and technically he is very good.
“He flourishes in the system the gaffer plays. We just need to keep at him to get him fitter and match sharper.
“But not a bad return for his first Old Firm!”
Post haste
Ange Postecoglu has hailed his Celtic players for handling the pressure tonight.
He beamed: “I’m very proud of the lads
“The first half was outstanding, the football was brilliant and we could have had more goals.
“The second half we showed we can defend if we need and full credit to the players.
“Itt was a big game, we knew the consequences, there was big pressure on us and we handled it superbly.”
McGregor urges Celtic calm
Celtic captain Callum McGregor says his side were ‘first class’ tonight.
But the midfield ace admits they won’t get carried away, saying: “I thought the football we played in the first half was first class.
“It has been labelled at us that we have missed too many chances but we were clinical.
“The manager was on at us to take our chances and we knew we had to be ruthless – which we were.
“We have done a lot of hard work from the start of the season and it’s important for the new guys to see a win like that here. But we won’t get carried away.”
Credit: Reuters Next up for Old Firm duo
Celtic and Rangers will both be in action on Sunday.
The new league leaders are taking on Motherwell.
And Rangers will be hoping to bounce back against Hearts.
Round the block
Celtic have performed a lap of honour around Parkhead.
They know how big a result this is for the title race.
And how much of a mental blow it will inflict on Rangers.
Credit: Kenneth Ramsay Credit: Reuters Miller weighs in
Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller believes it is not looking good for his old side.
He told the BBC: “Off the back of the two draws, this is going to be very damaging. Rangers are playing catch-up now. It’s a different mentality.
“You have to beat Ross County away, not concede three goals. And they were outplayed at Pittodrie. Rangers have to find answers and find them quickly.”
Party time for Hoops
The Celtic fans are ecstatic and have given their team a standing ovation.
What a way to end a winless run against your closest rivals!
Credit: Reuters Celtic back on top
What a night for Ange Postecoglu and his men.
A poor start to the season has been turned around and they now lead Rangers in the race for the title.
McCoist scathing in Gers assessment
Ally McCoist reckons tonight’s result is a ‘major wake-up call’ for Van Bronckhorst.
The Rangers legend lamented: “Rangers were abysmal, especially in the firs 45 minutes.
“They were slightly better in the second with Ryan Jack, but what we saw this evening is a major wake-up call
“If they needed it after the disappointing results at Aberdeen and Ross County, they were way off it tonight and beaten by a far, far better side.”
Full-time – Celtic 3 Rangers 0
The whistle has gone at Parkhead and Celtic have taught Rangers a lesson here tonight.
Hatate’s double and Abada’s strike moments before half-time secured the win.
But more importantly, Celtic are now above Rangers at the top of the table.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
90+4. That’s got to be it. Rangers pass up a huge chance to pull one back as Goldson fires a point-blank header over the bar.
Van Bronckhorst groans on the sideline. He knows this could be a huge setback in the title race.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
90+3. Celtic are basking in the scoreline and are toying with Rangers.
Doak does pick up a yellow card with a clash with Sakala.
But Celtic won’t mind as they close in on a priceless victory.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
90. There will be five minutes of additional time here.
Can Rangers pull one back to save some face?
Or will Celtic score another?
Credit: AFP Celtic 3 Rangers 0
89. 60,000 home fans are bouncing with joy here.
The green flares are out, the songs are loud and Celtic are top of the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
87. More changes for Celtic as they near an epic home win.
OFF – Jota; O’Riley
ON – Doak; Soro
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
85. Taylor has now drawn a great save McGregor direct from a wide free-kick!
McGregor surely deserves some sort of award for his performance tonight.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
84. Jota wins a corner, takes it, and forces McGregor into a good save to win ANOTHER corner!
Celtic getting the clock ticking down cleverly here, they have been dominant in all areas and are in search of a fourth goal.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
82. Last eight minutes at Parkhead and so far it’s Reo Hatate who is taking home the matchball.
He got an extra-big hug from Ange Postecoglu as he came off.
And Celtic fans are sure to remember this performance for a long time.
Credit: Reuters Credit: Reuters
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
79. Close! Ryan Jack lines up a rocket and smashes the ball against the crossbar!
He has been by a mile Rangers’ best player since coming onto the field.
If only the rest of his teammates had put in a similar effort.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
78. A reminder that Celtic have lost six of their last seven games against Rangers.
What a way to bounce back… especially as they leapfrog the Gers into top spot.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
77. Another yellow for the visitors and this time it’s Balogun who goes into the book.
I would say the life has been sapped from Rangers but they never showed much energy in the first place.
Celtic 3 Rangers 0
75. Rangers manage to carve out a chance in attack but can’t capitalise on it.
Captain Tavernier then goes into the book for clambering over the back of Jota.
Celtic have definitely slowed down, but then when you’re 3-0 up, why not?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
