Ryan Naderi’s strike gave Rangers their second win against Celtic in eight days to move within two points of their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Martin O’Neill had insisted Celtic’s confidence was not “rock bottom” after their League Cup defeat at Ibrox was followed by a loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League. But, in front of 60,000 of their own supporters, it certainly took another huge dent.
After Auston Trusty’s effort was ruled out for offside, Rangers took the lead. Naderi fired in on the rebound after Viljami Sinisalo denied Min-Su Kim as the cheers turned to jeers at Parkhead.
Kieran Tierney hit the woodwork as the champions looked to respond, with Djedi Gassama then doing the same at the other end.
Celtic’s first chance on target did not come until after half-time, but Ivor Pandur produced a huge save to keep Colby Donovan’s header out.
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Olwethu Makhanya thought he had doubled Rangers’ lead with a great goal but it was disallowed for handball
Rangers continued to push. Olwethu Makhanya volleyed past Sinisalo but VAR also ruled out his effort, this time for handball.
Celtic had some late chances, but were booed off the pitch on the full-time whistle as Derek McInnes became the first manager since 1991 to win his first two Old Firm games.
The key moments from Celtic Park
6: NO GOAL FOR CELTIC! Trusty finishes well but Liam Scales had strayed offside before heading across to his fellow centre-back.
27: RANGERS SHOT ON TARGET! Dan Neil’s shot deflects into the arms of Sinisalo.
28: AND ANOTHER ONE! Naderi with a header this time, but again it is an easy save for Sinisalo.
30: TIERNEY HITS THE BAR! Benjamin Nygren works the ball out to Tierney, who hammers a shot which beats Pandur but not the bar.
33: GOAL RANGERS! Kim is denied by Sinasalo, but he pushes it out for Naderi to send the rebound home.
36: RANGERS NEARLY 2-0 UP! Djeidi Gassama hits the woodwork.
42: CELTIC DANGER! Camilo Duran gets inside to clip a cross into the box but Rangers clear.
46: BIG SAVE TO DENY CELTIC! Celtic have their first effort on target immediately after half-time, but Pandur is equal to Donovan’s header at the back post.
53: RANGERS CHANCES! The first one sees Sinasalo palm out James Penrice’s low shot into the danger area, then Naderi cannot put the rebound home.
54: CLOSE! The visitors believe they can double their lead here as Kim has a shot towards the bottom corner, which whistles just wide of the post.
64: HUGE RANGERS CHANCE! Cameron Carter-Vickers scrambles Naderi’s ball wide at the back-post.
74: NO GOAL FOR RANGERS! Makhanya’s volleyed effort silences Celtic Park, but he handled it first.
79: RANGERS CHANCE! The visitors cannot kill this off! Findlay Curtis has a shot from an angle which is straight at Sinasalo.
82: CELTIC DANGER! Haissem Hassan delivers a ball from the right but it is just overhit for the head of Kasper Hogh.
86: FORREST SHOT DEFLECTED OVER! James Forrest has a shot from close range which is well deflected over.
‘Celtic are in big trouble’
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Kris Boyd and Neil Lennon are left fearful for Celtic following a dismal display against Rangers
Kris Boyd on Sky Sports:
“It was men against boys. Celtic are lucky to get out of here 0-1.
“Celtic are a team in big, big trouble.”
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Sky Sports:
“Rangers were far the superior team. They played all the football.
“Celtic were out-worked and disjointed. Hope rather than expectation on their play. Battered…all the best players were in a blue shirt.
“There needs to be a total reset.”
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