RANGERS 3 CELTIC 0
THE only positive Celtic can take from this truly awful performance at Ibrox this afternoon is that they cannot be so bad for the rest of 2025.
Right from the start, the champions were off the pace, predictable and picked off by eager opponents with something to prove.
Too many of Brendan Rodgers’ players just didn’t turn up and there were a few who may want to have a look at themselves in the mirror after as dire a display as anyone could imagine.
The Parkhead men were puzzlingly passive throughout a lop-sided showing where only Cameron Carter-Vickers could emerge with any credit.
Liam Scales and Reo Hatate looked as they were involved in their own personal duel to see who could gift possession most to the opposition while Callum McGregor tried hard, but lacked support from Paulo Bernardo and the Japanese.
The only surprise was that it took Rodgers into the second-half before the disappointing duo got the hook.
Even simple passes were going astray and Alistair Johnston caught the bug with a few that allowed the home team a few throw-ins when they should have been on the back-foot.
Daizen Maeda started the contest looking lively before dropping into anonymity while Nicolas Kuhn contributed virtually nothing on the right.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s deadly first touch also deserted him and he cut a forlorn figure in attack with his midfield showing little cohesion as Rangers all too easily won the mystifying majority of 50-50 challenges to cut off his supply line.
It was hardly a surprise that the hosts were allowed to take a sixth-minute lead after a horrendous pass forward by Scales, who looked a nervous wreck all the way through.
His wayward ball was intercepted and Nico Raskin brushed aside a puny challenge from Bernardo as he surged forward.
He knocked a pass in front of Ianis Hagi and his crisp, low left-foot drive from 20 yards crept in at Kasper Schmeichell’s left-hand post as the Dane threw himself across his line.
Celtic were getting lost in a maze of mistakes with passes failing to hit intended targets and Philippe Clement’s side came close to doubling their advantage in the 13th minute when Vaclav Cerny was allowed to come inside onto his favoured left foot, but his effort flicked off Scales and skimmed the top of the crossbar.
The nearest the Hoops came to a goal came in stoppage-time when Hatate first-timed a clearance at goal, but Liam Kelly was well placed to push the drive to safety.
It didn’t get much better after the turnaround. Kyogo did have the ball in the net in the 53rd minute after a lovely touch and turn to leave Kelly helpless, but, alas, the Japanese striker had strayed just offside before Bernardo pitched in his pass.
Celtic, though, were unconvincing. Wayward passes plagued their play throughout the day and they escaped on the hour mark when Scales gave away possession for the umpteenth time.
His pass was intercepted by Mo Diomande who released Vaclav Cerny. He looked offside, but referee Don Robertson waved play on and he carried into the box before whipping a low shot past Schmeichel.
It looked a goal all the way until it struck the inside right-hand post and was cleared for a corner-kick.
In the 64th minute, Rodgers at last made some changes as his team continued to toil when he sent on Alex Valle, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah for Greg Taylor, Bernardo and Kyogo.
Two minutes later, the hosts scored a second goal after some deplorable defending at a right-wing corner-kick from Cerny. Raskin was allowed a free header that was cleared off the line straight to Robin Propper who was unmarked in front of goal to smack the ball into the empty net.
At this stage, Celtic looked hell-bent in committing soccer suicide.
Meada was so insignificant on the left wing that stand-in right-back Ridvan Yilmaz was allowed the time to go forward and he had six attempts at Schmeichel’s goal – more than Celtic managed against Kelly throughout this miserable performance.
Engels came on for Hatate in the 75th minute and six minutes later McCowan allowed Jefte to take the ball off him, race forward and have a shot at goal.
Carter-Vickers blocked the drive, but the ball ricocheted to Danilo and, with practically his first kick of the ball, he belted No.3 past the stranded Schmeichel.
There was an unsavoury incident near the end at the right-wing corner flag when Engels was hit by a missile thrown by a thug in the crowd. The evidence was passed onto police staff and the home team can expect to face a thorough investigation by the the authorities.
Thankfully, the Belgian was able to resume after treatment as the game was held up for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, it must be said Celtic got what they deserved – zilch.
They will just have to console themselves with an 11-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
But Brendan Rodgers and his players have some questions to answer after this totally unacceptable performance.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Bernardo (sub: McCowan 64), McGregor, Hatate (sub: Engels 75); Kuhn, Kyogo (sub: Idah 64) and Maeda.
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