Kyogo Furuhashi’s late first-half strike gave Celtic a vital 1-0 cinch Premiership win over Rangers at Ibrox to heap stress on Gers boss Michael Beale.
The Mild Blues had the ball within the internet twice within the first half however on each events the ‘objectives’ weren’t allowed to face – offside and a foul picked up by VAR – however Furuhashi may have scored twice earlier than he fired the guests in entrance simply earlier than the break.
There have been no travelling supporters – Celtic rejected the provide of round 700 tickets, citing security considerations – however that appeared to hinder slightly than assist the house aspect at occasions as they tried in useless to get again on stage phrases.
— Celtic Soccer Membership (@CelticFC) September 3, 2023
After simply 4 league fixtures, leaders Celtic are already 4 factors forward of their Outdated Agency rivals going into the worldwide break and the highlight shall be on Beale, who should have heard the boos ring out on the closing whistle.
For Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, who was below some stress himself after his group misplaced to Kilmarnock within the Viaplay Cup after which drew at residence to St Johnstone, it was a return to the overwhelmingly optimistic derby outcomes he loved in his first spell as Parkhead boss.
Rangers had been knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by PSV Eindhoven in midweek on a 7-3 mixture, a consequence which introduced the doom-mongers again to Beale’s door.
Dujon Sterling took over from the injured left-back Borna Barisic in Rangers’ line-up whereas midfielder Ryan Jack and striker Kemar Roofe returned with Jose Cifuentes and John Lundstram dropping out, whereas winger Liel Abada changed Yang Hyun-Jun in Celtic’s XI.
There have been solely seconds on the clock when Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers arrange Rabbi Matondo to knock the ball into the Celtic internet, however the former was offside.
An anticipated Rangers onslaught did not materialise.
Celtic had been calmer in possession and within the sixteenth minute Hoops skipper Callum McGregor despatched Abada down the fitting and his cross couldn’t deliver a clear connection from Furuhashi simply yards from purpose.
When residence defender John Souttar misplaced possession, Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley despatched Furuhashi clear however his angled drive was blocked by a mix of Ibrox goalkeeper Jack Butland and Mild Blues centre-back Connor Goldson.
Moments later, Rangers had the ball within the internet once more.
When Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke was challenged by Dessers simply contained in the Hoops half the ball broke clear for the Rangers attacker and he raced on earlier than squaring the ball for Roofe, who took a contact earlier than firing previous Celtic keeper Joe Hart.
When referee Don Robertson checked the pitchside monitor on the behest of the VAR, he dominated the purpose out for a foul on the Parkhead defender, albeit it appeared gentle.
Furuhashi ultimately obtained on course seconds earlier than the interval when O’Riley returned a Goldson header into the trail of the Japan striker who confidently drove the ball previous Butland to silence Ibrox.
An early second-half mistake by Goldson gifted the ball to Abada and his angled shot was simply missed on the again put up by Daizen Maeda.
Amid some huffing and puffing from Rangers, Butland needed to save an honest drive from Holm on a Celtic break.
Because the Govan aspect saved urgent, Hart raced out to foil Sam Lammers earlier than denying Danilo twice from shut vary as Celtic held on for the win.
