Moussa Dembele’s Demolition Derby – Celtic 5 Rangers 1

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The Celtic Star

·10 de septiembre de 2024

Moussa Dembele’s Demolition Derby – Celtic 5 Rangers 1

Eight years ago today Moussa Dembele made himself a hero while Joey Barton was sent packing back down the road…

Celtic Fans arrive early before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers on September 10, 2016 in Glasgow. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Eight years ago this week seen the first ever league clash between Celtic and theRangers as the newly formed side made their debut in the top flight. There was a party atmosphere at Celtic Park as we welcomed our new rivals with an array of balloons and beach balls as zombie nation was belted out the tannoys.

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This new side has become a bit cocky since their promotion to the top flight of Scottish football led by loudmouth ned Joey Barton. And theRangers were under the management of future England manager Mark Warburton the self proclaimed Magic Hat and they were here to show us that they meant business.

Joey Barton of Rangers arrives at Celtic Park before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Celtic though were under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers and a new era was being created under the talented Irishman. Celtic headed into the game without the services of Leigh Griffiths who was injured and despite the blow of losing the prolific striker we had a reputable replacement in the shape of new signing Moussa Dembele.

Frenchman Moussa who was signed from Fulham was highly rated, but this would be his first big test in the cauldron of paradise on derby day. Moussa responded to that pressure and then some as he hit a perfect hat trick in a 5-1 thumping of the new side. Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong hitting the other goals to round off a fabulous day.

Brendan Rodgers Celtic Manager arrives arrives at Celtic Park before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers on September 10, 2016 in Glasgow. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

The icing on the cake was seeing Joey Barton shown up for the coward he really is. Bossed by Broony and literally sent packing down the road as this proved to be his last ever game for the Ibrox club. What a memory, what a day!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

: Celtic Fans arrive early before the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on September 10, 2016 in Glasgow. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Below we have an extract from Matt Corr’s outstanding book on that season which is simply call INVINCIBLE. If you’ve not read it yet do yourself a favour and get your copy HERE

Invincible by Matt Corr

Men against boys as Celtic do their talking on the field

The only downside from the excellent 4-1 victory over Aberdeen at Celtic Park had been a hamstring injury picked up by Leigh Griffiths, which saw his removal during the second half, and which would prevent him playing during the international break and the first domestic fixture beyond that, a home game with newly promoted Rangers.

Three days after that win, Brendan Rodgers had made his final signing of the summer transfer window, Costa Rican international right-back Cristian Gamboa joining for the proverbial “undisclosed fee” from Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion. The 26-year-old had struggled for game-time under Baggies’ manager Tony Pulis and had jumped at the opportunity to join the Rodgers Revolution in Glasgow.

“When my agent called me to tell me about Celtic, I said to him, “Do everything because I really want to go. It doesn’t matter if they play Champions League or not – it’s still a big club.” So, for me the fact they have qualified [for the group stage]is like a double bonus – I get to play for this club and to play in the Champions League.”

Gamboa had featured in all five matches in Brazil, as Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, the full-back playing every minute as the rank outsiders topped their group with victories over Uruguay and Italy, followed by a draw with England. In the last sixteen, he played for 77 minutes in the draw with Greece, the opposition featuring recently released Celtic striker, Georgios Samaras.

The Costa Ricans would progress 5-3 on penalties at the expense of the Greeks but he would be reacquainted with Big Sammy soon enough, the pair joining West Brom within a few weeks of each other in August 2014, Gamboa leaving Norwegian champions, Rosenborg Trondheim. The Parkhead theme would continue at the Hawthorns, with future Hoops star Youssef Moulumbu, already plying his trade there. It could actually have been even more interesting from that perspective, as both Scott Sinclair and Scott Allan had only left the Midlands club in the close-season, to head for Manchester City and Hibernian respectively. A small and hugely interconnected world is football.

Moussa Dembelle of Celtic scores during the Scottish Premier league match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park at Celtic Park Stadium on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The glorious World Cup run for those with the “pura vida” outlook came to an end against the Netherlands in the quarter-final, once again following a penalty-shootout, this time the Dutch scoring with all four efforts as the Costa Ricans missed twice to sadly exit the tournament.

Moussa Dembele of Celtic celebrates his goal ( Celtics 2nd)with Scott Sinclair Rangers during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

Whilst Gamboa had continued to be a first pick for his international team, the likeable full-back had made fewer than 20 appearances in his two years at the Hawthorns. Would this be a problem?

“I always try to keep myself in shape by doing extra work. I wasn’t playing at West Brom, but I was playing in all the national team games, so right now I am missing some match fitness, but I will come here and do my best, and if you give me the chance, I’ll be ready.”

Moussa Dembele of Celtic scores his 2nd goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

He was deemed ready enough for a place on the bench as Mark Warburton brought his Rangers team across Glasgow for the first meeting of the sides since the ill-fated shoot-out at Hampden, five months earlier. Brendan Rodgers had made just the one, enforced change for the derby, Moussa Dembele replacing the injured Leigh Griffiths. It would prove to be a very significant hand dealt by fate indeed. Some things are just meant to be, I guess.

The teams appeared in the tunnel to a deafening roar from 58,348 fans, on Saturday, 10 September 2016, Celts emerging to face a human tricolour in the north-east corner where the Ultras assemble, one of the most visually effective displays I have ever seen in all my years of supporting the club.

Once again, Celtic started in dominant mood, forcing the play, however, we had passed the half-hour mark before the first goal arrived, Scott Sinclair’s curling corner met by a majestic header from Moussa Dembele, which bulleted past Wes Foderingham in the Rangers goal.

As the noise levels increased yet further, Dembele made it a derby double, running onto Nir Bitton’s through ball to check back inside Philippe Senderos, the former Arsenal defender left unceremoniously grounded as the Frenchman struck an exquisite right-footed finish around Foderingham and into the far corner for 2-0. Seconds before half-time, the visitors pulled a goal back, literally out of the blue, Kenny Miller’s header across the six-yard box bundled in by Joe Garner, to slightly dampen the party atmosphere over the interval.

Scott Sinclair of Celtic celebrates his goal celtics 3rd) during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

The Hoops fans needn’t have worried. On 60 minutes, Mikael Lustig prompted Dembele into life with a pass delivered in from the right flank. This time Moussa deceived the back-peddling Rangers defence by threading a delightful pass through to Sinclair, his clinical one-touch finish clipping the post on its way to making it 3-1, Scott’s fourth successive League goal. The unfortunate Senderos’ afternoon then went from bad to worse, the big Swiss defender stretching up to stop another attack with his hands, with 15 minutes remaining, leaving referee Collum no option but to show him a second yellow card.

Moussa Dembele of Celtic scores his 3rd goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

There would be more pain to endure for Warburton’s promoted side. As the clock ticked on to 83 minutes, Lustig sent over a perfect cross, which took stand-in central defender Joey Barton out of the game completely. Dembele’s finish was sublime, one touch to control before firmly placing the ball into the far corner with his left-foot for the perfect hat-trick, his first-ever treble in senior football.

Brendan Rodgers Celtic’s manager celebrates after the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

The icing on the Celtic cake was provided right at the death, this time Kieran Tierney the provider, his cross from the left picking out Stuart Armstrong. The blond midfielder, a replacement for Tom Rogic early in the second half, momentarily appeared to have missed his opportunity, drifting past defenders only to strike it back across the keeper and in for 5-1. It was party central in the east end of Glasgow.

Moussa Dembele takes away the match ball having scored 3 of the 5 goals during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on September 10, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

This would be the first significant checkpoint in the 2016/17 title race.

Celtic, having won at Tynecastle and Perth and then scored nine goals at home to the two anticipated “main challengers”, Aberdeen and Rangers, had a 100% record, already four points clear of the Ibrox side with that Partick Thistle game still in hand. It had been a perfect start to the domestic season, with recent signings Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair contributing more than their fair share of goals, whilst Leigh Griffiths had continued where he had left off in May. And all achieved against a background of Champions League qualification and injuries to key players.

It was, therefore, a happy Brendan Rodgers who spoke to the press after the game, asked first, of course, about the performance of his exciting young French striker.

“He was outstanding. He was up against Philippe Senderos, who’s an experienced player – but you see his physicality in the game, his heading ability, his running ability and a wonderful touch and finish.”

And his views on the game and the experience overall?

“I was disappointed that we conceded a goal before half-time. You expect them to come out and try to force the game in the first 10 minutes of the second half and there was too much area opening up, especially in the central areas – so we made the change. Tom’s had a lot of travel in the international break. We said to Stu that this was a game he could come into and look to press and work, and he’s done that very well and got his goal. He contributed to a great team performance.”

“It was important to win today and keep the momentum going. We have got to be relentless in our quest to win the title again and that was a good marker for us. The atmosphere today was truly special. When the noise is like that, it really is a team that has a 12th man. They had a real disappointment at Hampden only a few months back, so hopefully they have shown the improvements they have made. It is great for the supporters. It is always about bragging rights for the supporters and I think they will be proud of their team today.”

His opposite number, Mark Warburton, surprisingly felt there was no significant gap between the sides.

“It’s game five of a long season. We don’t see a major gulf. We just got beat 5-1. They have bragging rights and deserved to win.”

Man-of-the-moment Dembele could scarcely contain his delight, admitting that it was an experience he would remember “for my whole life.”

“It feels great. To score a hat-trick, my first in professional football, is something unbelievable. Everyone has welcomed me since I came to the club and the fans were unbelievable today. The atmosphere is something I have never seen. I don’t think I will see something like this in my career.”

Final word for now goes to the Celtic captain, Scott Brown. He had remained silent whilst Joey Barton, brought in from the English Championship side Burnley on a reputedly large salary, had bad-mouthed him in the media, claiming that Brown was “nowhere near the level of player I am.” The controversial midfielder’s words had come back to haunt him, the veteran Celt dominating proceedings from the outset, leaving the field to a standing ovation on 74 minutes, the game and Joey already in the bag.

Pressed by the headline-seeking media afterwards about the anticipated “battle with Barton,” Brown dismissed it out of hand.

“It was easy.

There was no battling whatsoever.

It was pretty much men versus boys at the end of the day.”

An extract from INVINCIBLE by Matt Corr, available now at celticstarbooks.com

Hail, hail,

Matt Corr

Follow Matt on X/Twitter @Boola_vogue

COMING SOON ON CELTIC STAR BOOKS…CELTIC IN THE THIRTIES, VOL 1&2 BY MATT CORR…

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