CELTIC Park in the sun, Celtic scored two, Brendan Rodgers got his fun.
The Parkhead boss may have talked down his pre-match comments ahead of this Old Firm crunch.
But crucially his team turned up.
The title race is all but over now after this derby victory against Rangers that was pulsating and bursting with drama.
Matt O’Riley scored first before John Lundstram turned the ball into his own net.
Cyriel Dessers then pulled one back for Philippe Clement’s side before Lundstram was sent off for a wild and crazy tackle just before half-time.
Rodgers side missed a second-half penalty and ended up clinging on for the win in a nervy finish.
But there could be no doubting they deserved the crucial three points that puts them within touching distance off three-in-a-row.
You always felt Rangers had to take the lead here to stand any chance of getting the win they needed.
That they had to silence the 60,000 home support. Turn their backing into anxiety.
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And the Ibrox side had some big moments at 0-0.
Fabio Silva twice had opportunities to score before Celtic did.
Dujon Sterling also had a big chance early on when he should have done better with a header after jumping above Greg Taylor.
Clement will point to those misses and wonder what might have been.
But in the cold light of day, they don’t matter.
Not against a Celtic side that did everything asked of them in the definite fixture of the season.
It may have ended with only one goal between these sides but Celtic produced a disciplined and controlled performance when they needed one most.
And no-one was more influential than Callum McGregor who was the team’s beating heart.
He said in the build-up how he adored this fixture and relished its challenge. His performance only underlined that.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke must have loved seeing this all-action, non-stop running shift from the midfielder with the Euros so close now.
McGregor played a part in the Celtic goal that saw them go 1-0 ahead after 35 minutes.
James Forrest, another player so influential in this team lately, slid a neat pass to his captain down the right channel.
McGregor then lifted his head to find O’Riley, who did the rest with a near-post finish Jack Butland couldn’t get near.
It was the goal the home supporters had been waiting for, one they maybe feared wouldn’t come after a number of close calls.
O’Riley could actually have scored twice before he eventually did. Forrest, Kyogo, McGregor all firing off shots too which failed to hit the net.
Going ahead gave Celtic a shot of adrenaline that only increased their intensity and within three minutes it was 2-0.
This time Daizen Maeda burst down the left to latch onto a long ball forward before playing it across goal.
Lundstram stuck out a leg only to score a cruel OG.
Celtic looked good to go on and win comfortably from that moment.
But inside a minute of conceding, Rangers managed to pull a goal back.
Dessers hadn’t scored an Old Firm goal before and he can be pleased with how he got himself into the right place at the right time to head past Joe Hart.
It was a moment that showed Clement’s side at least had a fighting spirit to get back into it.
But then came Lundstram’s moment of madness. There is just no other word for it.
Sure, the ball was there to be won as he slid into a challenge on Johnston.
But players just cannot expect to get away with the type of tackle he made.
Referee Willie Collum initially gave Lundstram the benefit of the doubt by flashing a yellow card.
But it was a red all day long and a quick quick of the VAR monitor confirmed it.
With an extra man for second-half, the chances of Rangers getting anything from the game went from slim to none.
It would have been difficult enough for Clement’s team to turn it around with a full complement of players out on the park.
Rodgers’ side should have made things far easier on themselves in 52 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after O’Riley was tripped inside the box by Mohamed Diomande
Collum had a good view of it and pointed to the spot and even after he was invited to take another look by VAR, Steven McLean, he stuck by his original decision.
O’Riley stepped up, looking for his second goal of the game, but it was a tame effort saved by Butland.
It was backs to the wall for Rangers.
Celtic had wave after wave of attack which saw a VAR check for a handball inside the box turned away as well as a Maeda finish which was disallowed for off-side.
There as a half-chance for Clement’s side to make it 2-2 but substitute Ross McCausland opted to control a ball inside the box when he should have tried a first-time volley.
That would have been encouraging to the Rangers fans watching at home.
What wouldn’t have been was the sight of Silva giving assistance to Johnston as he lay on the pitch struggling with cramp.
Clement’s side really went for in in the final ten minutes and there were signs of nervousness at the back for Celtic.
McGregor had to race back and block a shot from sub Scott Wright. Butland even going up for a last gasp corner.
While Adam Idah shot side as he missed a chance to seal it with a third.
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In the end, though, the final whistle signalled wild celebrations with the title race all but done.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
