Rangers vs Celtic. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox Stadium.
Match report and highlights as Rangers move 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with 1-0 win over Celtic; Nir Bitton is sent off for foul on Alfredo Morelos before Callum McGregor own goal settles Old Firm derby
Saturday 2 January 2021 23:52, UK
Rangers moved 19 points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit after beating Celtic 1-0 as Callum McGregor's own goal settled the second Old Firm clash of the season following Nir Bitton's dismissal.
Rangers were not at their best at Ibrox but they remain relentless in their pursuit of the title, with the game turning on referee Bobby Madden's decision to send off Bitton for a professional foul after 62 minutes as he tussled with Alfredo Morelos.
By then, Rangers keeper Allan McGregor had produced several saves to ensure the hosts remained level with their fierce rivals, but eight minutes later, Steven Gerrard's men went in front as the unfortunate McGregor deflected James Tavernier's corner into his own net.
There would be no late drama as Rangers moved 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, although second-placed Celtic still have three games in hand.
It is the first time that Rangers have gone unbeaten in their opening 22 top-flight games since the 1967/68 season as Steven Gerrard became the first Ibrox manager since Walter Smith to win three in a row against Celtic.
Neil Lennon told Sky Sports before kick-off that defender Christopher Jullien would be out for "three to four months" with a knee injury sustained in the victory over Dundee United on Wednesday. Then, following a poignant tribute to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, the visitors began the stronger.
Sky Sports co-commentator Andy Walker described Lennon's selection as a "team designed to win", and Odsonne Edouard had his first sight of goal inside three minutes when he ran onto McGregor's pass and drew a fine save low down by Allan McGregor.
Three minutes later, a poor headed clearance by Leon Balogun was intercepted by David Turnbull, whose cross was swept towards goal by Leigh Griffiths and McGregor was once again drawn into action, tipping over the rising shot.
Celtic had won five of their previous seven visits to Ibrox, and the defending champions continued to ask more questions as McGregor watched his shot whistle past the post. Rangers were struggling to impose themselves against the high energy of Lennon's men, with Alfredo Morelos failing to connect with Joe Aribo's low cross.
When the teams met in October, Celtic didn't register a shot on target, but they were making up for it here as Griffiths saw another precise effort tipped spectacularly onto the post by McGregor. The only disappointment for Lennon in the opening half an hour was that his side hadn't capitalised on their dominance as Turnbull slipped Griffiths through again but Connor Goldson did just enough to put the forward off his wayward shot.
Rangers were lacklustre and sloppy in possession as they failed to test Vasilis Barkas in the opening half. Celtic clocked up 11 attempts in the first 45 minutes alone - more than any opponent Rangers faced across 90 minutes in any previous league game this season, with Bitton's glanced header drifting just wide before the interval.
There had been plenty of cause for concern for Gerrard, whose side had failed to muster a single shot on target, and the Rangers boss turned to his bench at the restart as Ianis Hagi replaced the ineffectual Kemar Roofe.
Hagi underlined his capabilities within five minutes as he collected James Tavernier's pass, chopped inside Ismaila Soro and flashed a shot wide of Barkas' right-hand post. The hosts' marginal improvement continued as Kristoffer Ajer closed the door on Morelos with a last-ditch challenge.
But a sixth red card in the last seven Old Firm derbies swung the pendulum in Rangers' favour as Bitton was caught the wrong side of Morelos from Tavernier's measured pass, with referee Madden in no doubt the makeshift centre-back was the last line of defence prior to him wrestling the Colombian to the ground.
Rangers very nearly took full advantage from the resulting set piece as Goldson and Hagi were unable to convert Tavernier's delivery. Lennon brought on Shane Duffy, who was in the right place to deflect Borna Barisic's free-kick inches wide - but Rangers edged in front from the corner that followed.
Tavernier's front-post delivery was flicked on by Aribo and McGregor inadvertently headed beyond the stranded Barkas from close range.
The sending off had transformed the game as Celtic sought to breach the Rangers defence for only a sixth time this campaign, and substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi's snap-shot from range failed to trouble McGregor.
With the prospect of falling further behind their fierce rivals in the quest for a 10th Scottish Premiership title, Celtic began to look ragged as the hapless Duffy's panicked clearance nearly presented another opening for Ryan Kent before substitute Cedric Itten saw a fine effort narrowly clear the bar.
But there was no late twist meaning a 14th straight league win for Rangers, who now sit in a formidable position with Lennon's hopes of his side clinching an unprecedented 10 titles in a row hanging by a thread. Celtic now head to Dubai for some warm weather training, but the sun may have set on their pursuit of history.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard: "It's another win and another clean sheet. I'm proud of the team in terms of their efforts, but in the first half we weren't good enough. We weren't ourselves and I thought we were second best in a lot of areas.
"There was a big improvement in the second half. We were getting up to people and we were more aggressive. We were believing in ourselves in what we were trying to do. The sending off was a major incident in the game, and there only looked like one team was going to win it from there.
"I asked the players how much they wanted to win a derby, especially here at Ibrox. We couldn't be passive and second best. Credit to Celtic in that first half, but we will remain humble now having stretched our lead. We're not always going to be pretty on the eye.
"It's all about the outcome, and it's a good sign for us to win despite not being at our best. McGregor was outstanding. He's a world-class goalkeeper and he's reliable. I already knew about him but I know even more now why he's been successful at this club. He's bailed us out on a number of occasions. We will look to Aberdeen now and there's a lot of obstacles still to get over. Today was about making a statement but we don't look at leads. Our season starts now."
Celtic boss Neil Lennon: "I'm bitterly disappointed as I thought we were the better team. The referee has made the wrong decision that has changed the course of the game. It's not a sending off... it's a foul but we had Ajer coming round on the cover.
"It wasn't a clear goalscoring opportunity and I felt he was too quick to get the red card out. It changed the course of the game as we were in total control, dominating the game.
"We've been done by a pretty poor refereeing decision. I don't think he was great all day. Nir got himself in the wrong body position but we had Ajer on the cover. Our goalkeeper had nothing to do today, and we felt the goal was coming up until the red card. In a game of this magnitude, it was a rash decision from the referee. We didn't have the luck and we made Rangers look very ordinary today."
Allan McGregor hopes Rangers have taken a major step towards the Premiership title with their 1-0 victory over Celtic.
The Ibrox stopper broke Hoops' hearts with three world-class saves before namesake Callum McGregor's own goal handed Steven Gerrard's team a precious win which moves them 19 points clear at the top.
The Light Blues number one told Sky Sports: "Hopefully in five months' time it will be a huge win. I thought we were really, really poor in the first half and the 15 minutes before the sending off occurred.
"We were a wee bit better after that but the win is the most important thing. I've no idea why but they looked hungrier first half but we managed to get the win.
"I wasn't annoyed at having to be so busy. It's part and parcel of the game, you need to focus and be ready for anything that is thrown at you.
"But I was annoyed at how bad we were. I keep repeating myself, the win is the most important thing.
"The boys dug it out well. If you go back to Walter's (Smith) era, he was really good at that but that comes from the players and the messages the manager gives to us to carry out."
Rangers are back in Scottish Premiership action when they visit Aberdeen on Sunday January 10, live on Sky Sports Football; kick-off 3pm. Celtic host Hibernian a day later on Monday January 11, also live on Sky Sports Football; kick-off 7.45pm.
