Scottish Premiership

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 The Hoops midfielder was withdrawn after an hour as he made his last derby appearance before his summer switch to Aberdeen.
Rangers star Morelos appeared to taunt Celtic skipper Brown during Ibrox clashCredit: Reuters
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.
It’s never a quiet afternoon when Rangers star Morelos and Celtic’s Brown clashCredit: Reuters
It will be a moment the veteran midfielder will want to forget as the curtain comes down on his Old Firm and Celtic career.
John Kennedy and Co have failed to defeat Rangers in FIVE matches this season with the newly crowned Premiership champions winning four and drawing the other.
Morelos smashed home a stunner for Rangers after nutmegging Brown in big win over CelticCredit: The Sun
As a result, Rangers go through the season unbeaten against their Glasgow rivals and now move to within TWO games of completing an Invincibles league campaign.

RANGERS 4 CELTIC 1 Roofe, Morelos and Defoe pile misery on Hoops in Brown’s Old Firm finale

A Kemar Roofe double, and strikes from Morelos and Jermain Defoe secured a stunning 4-1 win for Gerrard’s men at Ibrox this afternoon.
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor was sent off early in the first-half after picking up two yellow cards.

Livingston and Aberdeen now stand in the way in the final two games of the season as Rangers look to go the whole 38 games without picking up a loss and smash through the 100-point barrier
For Brown, it turned out to be a disappointing final derby match with his last outing at Parkhead as a Celtic player coming up next midweek against St Johnstone before a final day clash at former club Hibs at Easter Road.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Watch as Arsenal’s ex-Celtic star Kieran Tierney sings ‘the Ronny Deila song’ during Call of Duty Warzone game More

ALFREDO MORELOS scored and NUTMEGGED Scott Brown in the Celtic skipper’s final Old Firm match on the way to helping keep Rangers’ Invincible dream alive.The Colombian – for whom this may also be the last derby – scored Gers’ second, either side of a double from Kemar Roofe before Jermain Defoe rounded things off.
Alfredo Morelos celebratesCredit: The Sun
Odsonne Edouard made it 1-1 after half an hour but with Callum McGregor sent off for Celtic for a second yellow in the build up to Roofe’s opener, the Hoops faced a mountain to climb.
Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard handed a Glasgow Derby debut to January signing Jack Simpson and a rare start of late to Roofe who repaid his manager’s faith in him.
John Kennedy welcomed James Forrest back into the Celtic team after his latest injury woe and opted for Edouard over Leigh Griffiths up top.
Rangers had a massive chance on ten minutes when James Tavernier swung a terrific ball into the box for Morelos at the back post but he completely miscued his effort.
The Hoops hit the bar just before Roofe scored when Mohamed Elyounoussi struck from distance only for Allan McGregor to tip it onto the woodwork.
Then came the goal and credit must also go to Nick Walsh – himself an Old Firm debutant – who played advantage after Celtic’s McGregor lunged in late on Glen Kamara in the build-up.
Walsh waved play on as the ball made its way to Joe Aribo whose cross looked to be a half a yard behind Roofe – but the forward had other ideas.
He twisted his body and diverted the ball into the net via his chest to put Gers up after 24 minutes.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Jack Simpson made his Old Firm debut for RangersCredit: The Sun
Kemar Roofe opens the scoringCredit: The Sun
Walsh then went back to hand midfielder McGregor’s his marching orders.
If Roofe’s finish was all ingenuity, Edouard’s equaliser was all instinct.
The French frontman was alert to steer the ball home via Kris Ajer’s knockdown from a Ryan Christie corner not even five minutes after Celts went behind.
The Light Blues had two big chances moments later, first through Roofe who had a low shot saved by Scott Bain before Aribo was also denied by the keeper at the near post.
But it was third time lucky for the Ibrox side because with their very next attack Morelos rifled a tremendous strike into the top corner – nutmegging skipper Brown in the process.
Picking the ball up on the edge of the box he jinked inside the Celtic captain before sending a stunning shot past Bain and high into the net.
Forrest had a brilliant chance to level affairs five minutes before half-time when Ajer slipped him through in space inside the box but he dragged his shot along the ground and it deflected away for a corner that Rangers then dealt with.
After a cagey opening ten minutes to the second half David Turnbull darted in between the Rangers centre-backs to attempt a diving header at goal from close range but he could only manage a faint touch and it posed keeper McGregor no danger.

Three minutes later Roofe popped up to extend Rangers’ lead, heading home from a pinpoint Borna Barisic cross.
That all but put the game out of the reach of the Hoops, a man down and two goals worse off with over half an hour on the clock.
But Rangers will be sweating over the fitness of Barisic who limped off under severe duress after 75 minutes.
Jermain Defoe came on as a late sub and scored a classy finish to round off a rampant day for Rangers.
St Johnstone players get in the party mood after stunning Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup More

CHARLIE NICHOLAS reckons Rangers’ early title win has hidden their deficiencies this season.And the ex-Celtic man claims Steven Gerrard has a MASSIVE summer ahead.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has won one trophy from nineCredit: The Sun
Rangers title-winners Ryan Kent and Alfredo MorelosCredit: The Sun
Gers romped to their first league championship in a decade last month after destroying the Hoops’ dreams of 10 in a row.
Rangers – who also reached the Europa League last 16 – are three games away from completing an unbeaten Premiership campaign, but were knocked out of both the Scottish Cup and Betfred Cup.
Stars such as Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos have earned huge plaudits this season but Nicholas doesn’t buy into that.
He said: “Rangers have now choked in both cup competitions.
“Winning the Premiership title as easily as they did disguised a lot of their faults.
“Many of the Ibrox players have downed tools since becoming champions.
“Yes, they knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup the weekend before last, but the hard work isn’t done until you finish the season and pick up the trophies.
“Steven Gerrard must be scratching his head. The Rangers manager still has so much to do and improve at Ibrox to make things right.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Ex-Celtic man Charlie NicholasCredit: Sky Sports

“If you look at this campaign, Rangers’ best players have been their defenders or goalkeeper.
“Ryan Kent hasn’t had a good season. Alfredo Morelos has been poor too.
“Gerrard will need to freshen up his squad this summer. He has a massive job on his hands.”
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
St Johnstone players get in the party mood after stunning Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup More

ZANDER CLARK produced divine intervention for St Johnstone to end Rangers’ Double dream.The keeper claimed the 122nd-minute Ibrox equaliser – despite Chris Kane getting the final touch.
It’s just one trophy win in the last nine for Rangers and Steven GerrardCredit: The Sun
Clark then saved two spot-kicks in the 4-2 shootout win as Callum Davidson’s side made the Scottish Cup semis.
He said: “There have been so many times this season when I have thought to myself: ‘I’m going to go up’ and I’ve looked at the bench and they’ve said no!
“I just thought, ‘Do you know what? It’s all or nothing. Just get myself up there’.
“I’ve had it against me many times and you’re shouting at someone to pick them up and everybody has a man.
“You just follow it and try to get yourself on the end of it.
“It was a great ball in and I glanced it.
“Typical striker, I think Kano toe poked it over the line, so I’m devastated!
Zander Clark was the St Johnstone hero in shootout win over RangersCredit: PA
“But you know what? I’m taking it! I don’t care if Kano tapped it in.
“It was what we deserved. We pushed them the whole way, we were excellent in everything we did so credit to the boys.
“Penalties are a lottery, it’s a case of who can keep their cool and score the most.
“It’s up to the keepers to try and help the boys out and save a couple. Thankfully I have done that.”
James Tavernier put Rangers ahead four minutes before the end of extra-time but then had a penalty saved in the shootout.
Gutted boss Steven Gerrard led an inquest into why Clark was unmarked at the leveller.
Rangers players are left dejected after Scottish Cup exit at hands of St JohnstoneCredit: PA
He admits his side’s cup record simply isn’t good enough after their Scottish Cup dream died.
And he wouldn’t entertain any talk that winning the league left his players drained.
He said: “We again have been stung by not being able to see the game out.
“We have been made to pay for one unique situation – a 6ft 3in goalkeeper coming up and getting a free header in the box.
“That’s not good enough. Players haven’t smelt that or dealt with that but that’s one us as a staff as well.
St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson hails striker Chris KaneCredit: PA
“We have to accept responsibility for that.
“I think it’s the easy way out, a cop out, for us to use excuses from three or four weeks ago.
“We felt fantastic back then and there was a lot of relief and emotions. Rightly so, we deserved that.
“But I made it clear the Scottish Cup was a priority and we needed to keep hungry.
“The challenge is for me to improve on cup competitions and get a group that’s capable of being better.
“And giving our fans what they deserve, which is more trophies – not just one out of nine.
“That’s not good enough.

RANGERS 1 ST JOHNSTONE 1 (2-4 PENS) Clark the hero for Saints as they chase cup double

“We can pick the bones out of tonight, we can pick the bones out of St Mirren. 
“We can feel sorry for ourselves in the League Cup Final, we can make excuses that we never had a forward in year one. 
“You can pick the bones out of it all, the reality is that it’s on me and it’s on us. 
“We need to make sure we are better in the cup competitions moving forward.”

Saints boss Davidson hailed Clark and his team-mates – admitting he thought they were out.
He said: “That’s why Zander plays head tennis with us, he tells me!
“The first penalty was crucial. It was a great save and I thought Zander was outstanding all game
“And the end will be something he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
“I’ve got to try and be calm and level headed. We’re in a semi-final and we’ve given ourselves a chance of getting to another final.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Rangers fans celebrate title win with jet and flag display over Australia’s Sydney Harbour More

KENNY DALGLISH reckons Celtic and Rangers would thrive in a British League – and would easily finish in the top half every season.SunSport exclusively revealed on Thursday that plans were in place to create a new cross-border competition following the collapse of the breakaway European Super League (ESL) movement.
Celtic and Rangers would both thrive in a British League, says Kenny DalglishCredit: Getty
And former Celtic star Dalglish thinks both his old club and Rangers would more than hold their own against the cream of English football if that comes to pass.
But the Scotland great also feels the Old Firm pair might have to work their way through the divisions to get to the top rather than being parachuted straight in.
Writing in his column in the Sunday Post, Dalglish said: “In the days since the ESL collapsed, there has been more talk of new league structures, only this time it’s not with any ESL, but a new British league set-up.
“The chat has mentioned there could be a place for Rangers and Celtic in any new structure.
Kenny Dalglish thinks Rangers and Celtic might have to work their way up to a British LeagueCredit: Getty
“Now, I have no problem with that because I think the Old Firm would do really well in it.
“Given the same financial resources as many of the other clubs, I believe they’d comfortably be in the top half of any British league every season.
“They both have brilliant fan bases, and they would be successful.
“But I do think they’d need to compete to get the rewards.

WAITING GAME Celtic’s hopes of landing Howe as boss could be dashed by Bournemouth’s promotion push

“I’m not sure about parachuting them straight into the English Premier League, or the Championship.
“Surely, they’d need to start in League Two, and work their way up through the divisions?
“People will rightly ask if that is not a contradiction of what was proposed in the setting-up of the ESL?
“Maybe yes, maybe no. Either way, I believe all clubs need to earn the right to success.

British Super League latest:

“We have been here before with all of this talk of the Old Firm moving to England.
“I honestly don’t know if the top English clubs really want Rangers and Celtic in any new set-up.
“It’s been mentioned for more than 20 years, but has never got off the ground.
“However, maybe it is going to be different this time? Maybe the winds of change are coming?”

The Anfield legend also reckoned his old club got it right eventually by pulling out of proposals for an ESL.
He added: “I’m a non-executive director at Liverpool, and I think ultimately the right decision was made by the club.
“The owners have listened to the Reds’ supporters, and it’s only right that our supporters are always instrumental in what happens to their football club.
“That’s the way it’s been for many, many years – and that’s the way it should be for many, many years to come.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Jamie O’Hara says Rangers would survive British Premier League but Celtic would be relegated More

BOURNEMOUTH’S promotion push could dash Celtic’s hopes of landing Eddie Howe as boss.The Hoops’ No 1 target wants to take some of his old backroom staff with him if he accepts the job — but may be priced out of it.
Former Bournemouth manager Eddie HoweCredit: PA
Coaches Stephen Purches and Stephen Weatherstone are already on good contracts and will pick up rises if they make it back to the Premier League.
Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes has also been earmarked for a crucial role behind the scenes.
But promotion will make them more expensive for Celtic both in wages and possible compensation deals with the Cherries.
Howe and Celtic may have to wait until after the play-off final on May 29 to see if Bournemouth are promoted or not.
Howe wants to bring Richard Hughes, left, to CelticCredit: Getty
But that wouldn’t suit Hoops chiefs — with the squad due back for pre-season on June 21.
Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers start on July 20 and the new boss has a major rebuild on his hands.
Howe emerged as the preferred candidate for Celtic after talks with Dermot Desmond — but a deal has yet to be sealed.
And time is now ticking as the Hoops bid to win the title back from Rangers and make the Champions League.
Meanwhile, national clinical director Jason Leitch reckons being able to have 10,000 fans at the Scottish Cup final – were it played elsewhere – would be a stretch.

GLOVE ARRIVAL Celtic keeper Ross Doohan snapped up by Dundee United on emergency loan

Fans have called for the showpiece game to be moved from Hampden to stadiums such as Celtic Park or Ibrox to allow supporters in.
But Leitch said: “I think having 10,000 supporters in is a stretch. The final decision about where the Cup final is is nothing to do with me of course.
“The game is when we are in Level 2 so without seeking permission you can have 500 supporters at an outdoor, seated event.
“That means you can do that without coming to the government or the local authority without permission.

“But we have also said that if you want more than that and can do it safely, there will be a mechanism to do that.
“That’s how we have ended up with the Euros at 12,500. They will just have to say how it will be safe.
“If you want more than 500 you will have to come with a plan for transportation, parking, policing, Covid officers and handwashing, etc.
“That is not far away; level 2 is May 17. We would be cautious but not ridiculous.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

British Super League being planned in secret with Celtic and Rangers joining Prem in new US-style play-off system More