Derby day delight for Celtic as victory puts Hoops six points clear | OneFootball

Scottish PremiershipSaturday, May 11, 2024Celtic Park, Rangers

CELTIC... 2 (O’Riley 35, OG Lundstram 38 )

RANGERS... 1(Dessers 40)

Celtic are now six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table after they defeated Rangers 2-1 at Celtic Park this afternoon (Saturday).

The atmosphere inside Celtic Park at kick-off was electric, as 60,000 Celtic supporters backed the team as they went in search of a win that would put them on the verge of the title.

It was almost the perfect start for the Hoops when James Forrest cut the ball back across goal from the right and watched as the ball was saved on the line by Jack Butland after a deflection.

Celtic’s fast start continued as Forrest had another two efforts on goal in the first 10 minutes of the match, one of which was tipped over the bar by the Rangers keeper.

The visitors’ first chance of the match came with 15 minutes on the clock when Fabio Silva drove in to the box and flashed a shot wide of the mark.

Celtic were by far the better team in the first half, and the chances kept coming for Brendan Rodgers’ men, with Callum McGregor coming up with two efforts of his own before Kyogo had his shot saved after Alistair Johnston found him in the box.

Celtic’s efforts paid off in the 35th minute when James Forrest, who was a thorn in Rangers’ side throughout the game, found his captain on the right wing.

McGregor twisted and turned before slipping the ball to O’Riley who fired it in to the bottom corner to send Celtic Park in to a state of euphoria.

The one-goal advantage was quickly doubled for the Celts after Cameron Carter-Vickers played a long ball to Daizen Maeda, who brought it down out of the sky effortlessly.

The forward, making his first start since returning from injury, flashed the ball in to the box where it ricocheted off John Lundstram, and the Rangers midfielder could only stop and stare as the ball trundled past Jack Butland to give the Celts a 2-0 lead.

The visitors grabbed a goal back a few moments later, Cyriel Dessers heading the ball in from a few yards out to make it 2-1.

However, Lundstram’s afternoon went from bad to worse when he was sent off just before half-time after his dreadful challenge on Alistair Johnston was reviewed by the video assistant and then by Willie Collum on the VAR monitor, with the yellow card upgraded to a red.

Celtic looked energised at the start of the second half and with just over five minutes of the second period gone, Matt O’Riley was brought down by Diomande in the box, resulting in a penalty for the Hoops after a VAR review.

O’Riley, who scored a penalty at Ibrox last month, was unable to find the back of the net from the spot this time, with Butland saving down to his left.

Daizen Maeda had the ball in the net just after the hour mark but the goal wasn’t awarded, with the forward being judged to have been offside.

With the clock ticking down, Celtic limited their opponents to very few chances, with every player in green and white digging deep to get the job done.

Callum McGregor and Brendan Rodgers both spoke during the week about how important the supporters would be this afternoon, and the Celtic faithful certainly stepped up to their task, with the atmosphere inside Celtic Park at an electric level all afternoon.

Deep into injury-time, Greg Taylor sent a ball down the left wing towards substitute Adam Idah. The Irish forward burst through on goal and only had the keeper to beat, but his shot just drifted wide of the post.

The tension inside the stadium was palpable as all eyes were locked on referee, Willie Collum, awaiting the final whistle. When it eventually came, the roar from the Celtic support told its own story.

The Hoops, with only two league matches left to play, now find themselves six points clear at the top of the table and on the brink of yet another title.

Brendan Rodgers’ men will now turn their attention to Wednesday night’s match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, where they will have a chance to finish the story that they have been writing all season.