CELTIC have won only one of the four Glasgow derbies in which John Beaton has been referee.
The champions have suffered two defeats and drew the other while the controversial whistler has been in charge.
Beaton was the match official in Brendan Rodgers’ only loss in this fixture.
As the Hoops prepare for for the High Noon showdown at Ibrox today – with Beaton the man in the middle – CQN looks at the history with all the games taking place in the Premiership.
THE FINAL SAY…Mikael Lustig fires in the fifth goal in Celtic’s 5-1 romp at Ibrox in April 2017. Referee John Beaton looks on.
April 29, 2017
Rangers 1 CELTIC 5
BRENDAN RODGERS masterminded the Hoops’ biggest-ever victory at Ibrox on the same day John Beaton made his debut in the fixture.
The visitors went ahead early in the contest with a penalty-kick from Scott Sinclair beyond Wes Foderingham. The award came after Patrick Roberts had been sent sprawling after a late challenge from left-back Myles Beerman.
Leigh Griffiths walloped in a second goal in the 18th minute and Callum McGregor claimed the third seven minutes after the interval. Dedryck Boyata headed in No.4 and Mikael Lustig brought down the curtain on an overwhelming performance with a solo effort three minutes from the end.
THE VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED…Mikael Lustig enjoys his unusual celebrations as Ibrox after scoring the final goal in the 5-1 rout in April 2017. Keeper Wes Foderingham and striker Kenny Miller don’t share in the joy.
Kenny Miller claimed the hosts’ consolation strike in 81 minutes.
Lustig and Boyata were both booked while Beaton also brandished yellow cards to Andy Halliday and Josh Windass.
December 29, 2018
Rangers 1 CELTIC 0
JOHN BEATON was at the centre of controversy when he failed to take action against Alfredo Morelos after the volatile Colombian had been involved in flashpoint incidents with Celtic trio Scott Brown, Ryan Christie and Anthony Ralston.
Amazingly, the hot-head striker escaped without even a lecture from the lenient match official.
The Hoops hierarchy were so incensed by the referee’s inept showing that they released a statement, calling on the SFA to investigate his performance.
It was a day to forget for the champions as Brown deflected a shot by Ryan Jack past Craig Gordon for the only goal of the game.
Beaton proved he had remembered to bring his cards by booking the unfortunate Brown, Mikael Lustig and Kristoffer Ajer were cautioned while Andy Halliday was the solitary home player to be punished by the whistler.
WATCHING BRIEF…Brendan Rodgers at Ibrox first time-around in his Celtic managerial career.
October 17, 2020
CELTIC 0 Rangers 2
PARKHEAD was a ghost ground in the midst of Covid-19 restrictions when Ibrox centre-back Connor Goldson emerged as the unlikely goal hero with a double.
It was a fairly low-key encounter played in silence, but John Beaton still felt the need to book Celtic captain Scott Brown along with team-mate Shane Duffy.
To balance matters, Alfredo Morelos – at last! – and Scott Arfield were yellow-carded.
January 2, 2023
Rangers 2 CELTIC 2
JOHN BEATON was back in the limelight when he failed to detect a blatant hand ball by Connor Goldson when he beat away a shot from Carl Starfelt as the Hoops trailed 2-1.
The Ibrox side escaped punishment and, astonishingly, the onfield official was not even instructed by VAR colleague Willie Collum to review the incident.
Daizen Maeda raced past James Tavernier and Connor Goldson to slot the opening goal beyond the outrushing Allan McGregor in the fifth minute.
The game turned on its head within six minutes of the restart when Ryan Kent whipped in an angled equaliser and Beaton awarded the hosts a spot-kick after Fashion Sakala went to ground after a tackle from Starfelt in the box.
Slow motion replays suggested the home forward had instigated the coming together, but the referee was not persuaded to change his mind and James Tavernier drilled the award high past Joe Hart.
Two minutes from te end, justice was done when Kyogo Furuhashi thumped in his first derby goal two minutes from time to maintain his team’s nine-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
Beaton booked only one Celt – Starfelt – and one of the hosts, Ryan Jack, in a keenly-contested encounter to start 2023.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Rangers v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
