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Both sides will now have a three-week break following this hugely significant result which has ended Celtic’s 11-game winning run in the league, and Lennon’s side will now be looking to bounce back when they travel to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup before a league clash with Kilmarnock. Rangers are now within touching distance of their Old Firm rivals in the league table ahead of the winter break, and their next clash sees them host Stranraer in the Scottish Cup before a league clash with St Mirren.
It finishes 2-1 to Rangers with Katic proving to be the match-winner after Edouard’s deflected effort cancelled out Kent’s opener. Rangers started the better of the two sides as Davis went closest to opening the scoring inside the first 30 minutes, but Celtic then had a big chance to take the lead when the referee pointed to the spot following Katic’s foul on Jullien. Christie stepped up to take the spot-kick, but he saw his effort expertly saved by Allan McGregor, and Rangers then went up the other end to add to Celtic’s woes. Barisic squared a composed delivery into the box from the left flank, and Kent then produced an excellent finish to place the ball into the left-hand side of the net to break the deadlock. However, Rangers were not in front for long as Celtic then pulled level in the 42nd minute when Callum McGregor’s effort deflected into the net off Edouard, and the goal was allowed to stand despite the visitors’ protests for handball. Rangers then started well after the interval and took the lead courtesy of Katic’s front-post header from Barisic’s corner, and they then thwarted a number of Celtic advances with Jullien and Bolingoli both seeing good opportunities cleared away. Rangers were then reduced to 10 men late on when Morelos was shown a second yellow card for diving, but Rangers managed to hold on for a remarkable victory to move within two points of Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit.
90′ + 7′ FULL-TIME: Celtic 1-2 Rangers
90′ + 6′ RED CARD! Rangers launch a counter-attack following Celtic’s failed corner which leads to Morelos running through on goal, and the forward then goes to ground under the challenge of Jullien, but the referee judges him to have dived and shows Morelos the red card.
90′ + 4′ Celtic desperately work the ball forward for Ntcham to tee up Edouard on the edge of the box, but he sees his effort deflected wide for a corner at the death.
90′ + 3′ Griffiths whips in a promising corner delivery from the right-hand side which is met by Jullien at the front post, but he can only direct his powerful header wide of the near post.
90′ + 3′ Rangers make their second change as Davis is replaced by Edmundson.
90′ + 2′ Frimpong tees up Ntcham for a cross deep on the right flank, and his bending delivery is nodded wide by Davis as Celtic win a corner.
90′ There will be four minutes of added time.
89′ Bolingoli concedes a free-kick after bringing down Morelos on the right flank, but Tavernier chooses to slide the ball towards Morelos in the right-hand corner, and the forward does well to earn a corner for his side.
87′ Frimpong cuts the ball inside to Callum McGregor in a deep midfield position, and he then clips a cross deep into the penalty area which Bolingoli can only nod straight into the grateful hands of Allan McGregor.
85′ Morelos is now shown the yellow card for a blatant nudge on Brown.
84′ Morelos and Jullien are both chasing a loose ball on the edge of the Celtic box which leads to both players going to ground in a tangle of legs, but the referee awards the free-kick Celtic’s way with Morelos adjudged to have committed the foul.
83′ Griffiths goes for glory with his free-kick effort from out wide on the right flank, but he curls his difficult effort high and wide of the right-hand post.
82′ Barisic is shown a yellow card for tripping Frimpong just outside the right-hand side of the Rangers box, and Celtic now have a free-kick in a dangerous area.
81′ Celtic make their third and final switch as Christie is replaced by Griffiths for the final nine minutes.
80′ Rangers are making their first change of the match as Arfield is brought on to replace Kamara.
78′ Morelos bides his time before slotting a pass down the right channel for Aribo to chase, and the midfielder then does very well to force Jullien into conceding a corner, but Rangers are unable to conjure an opportunity with the eventual delivery.
76′ CHANCE! Kent collects the ball in the centre-circle before sliding a neat throughball into the path of Morelos, and the forward then travels into the penalty area before laying it off to Aribo on his left, but he slices his effort wide of the near post.
74′ Brown edges into the right-hand side of the box before clipping a hopeful delivery towards Edouard at the back post, but Goldson is able to deflect the delivery out for a corner.
72′ Katic does well to rise highest to meet Tavernier’s floating delivery at the back post, but he then fails to bring it down effectively and Jullien is able to run it out for a goal-kick to Celtic.
B. Bolingoli Mbombo
Yellow Card
71′ Bolingoli is the next player to be shown a yellow card following his attempt to tug back Tavernier.
70′ Kamara receives a yellow card for a late challenge on Frimpong.
69′ Ajer makes a darting run towards the right-hand byline before sees his low cross take a wicked deflection, with this preventing any of his teammates from making a connection in the centre of the box.
68′ The hosts’ second change sees Ntcham enter the fray in place of Forrest.
68′ Celtic are making a double switch as Bitton firstly replaced Johnston.
66′ SAVE! Johnston cuts inside from the left wing before teeing up Bolingoli just outside the left-hand side of the box, but his drilled effort is pushed wide of the right-hand post by Allan McGregor.
64′ CLOSE! Celtic win a corner as Bolingoli’s low delivery is cleared away by Davis, and Christie again manages to pick out the towering head of Jullien at the back post, but Davis makes another last-ditch clearance off the line.
62′ Frimpong attempts to launch a Celtic attack on the right flank, but the referee deems the full-back to have handled the ball in the process, which presents Rangers with the chance to launch the ball forward again.
60′ Morelos cuts inside from the left flank before winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Goldson fails to connect with Barisic’s resulting cross before the referee then decides to award a free-kick to Celtic.
58′ That was the first headed attempt in the match so far despite the range of crosses delivered by either side, and Katic made it look easy as he got the better of Ajer before drilling his header home.
56′ Barisic has now provided the assist for both Rangers goals in this match so far, and it was another finely measured delivery for Katic to meet at the near post.
56′ GOOOAL! Katic makes it 2-1 to Rangers! Barisic whips in a corner delivery from the left-hand side which Katic rises to meet at the front post, and he climbs well above Ajer to nod the ball just inside the left-hand post.
54′ Kent collects the ball in midfield before lofting a dangerous delivery towards Barisic the box, but it skims off his head and then takes a deflection which prevents Goldson from making a connection at the back post.
52′ Bolingoli wins a corner for Celtic as his cross is deflected wide by Jack, and Christie’s resulting corner skims the head of Jullien before dropping to Edouard on the right flank, but his fizzing cross evades his teammates in the box.
50′ CHANCE! Goldson drills a pinpoint long ball into the path of Kent on the left flank who skids a teasing delivery towards Morelos inside the six-yard box, but the forward skies his first-time effort from close range.
49′ Christie is shown a yellow card for his foul on Morelos.
48′ Morelos nods the ball into the Celtic half near the right-hand byline as he attempts to launch a Rangers counter-attack, but he is tugged back by Christie who concedes a free-kick.
46′ The referee blows his whistle and Celtic get the game back underway!
The players are now back out on the pitch as the start of the second half draws closer.
Rangers will perhaps feel unfortunate to not be heading into the interval with the lead, particularly given the nature of Edouard’s equaliser which struck his hand on its way into the net. However, both sides saw 50 per cent of the ball inside an even opening half in terms of possession, but it should be noted that Rangers won nearly 64 per cent of first-half duels with Celtic only winning 36 per cent.
It is 1-1 between Celtic and Rangers at the interval with Edouard’s deflected effort just before half-time cancelling out Kent’s 36th-minute strike. Rangers started the game in the ascendency as they spent plenty of time in the Celtic half during the opening 30 minutes, but Davis’ saved first-time effort was the closest they went to breaking the deadlock. Celtic were then presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead when the referee pointed to the spot following Katic’s foul on Jullien, but Christie saw his penalty well saved by Allan McGregor. Rangers then took the lead three minutes later when Kent showed fine composure to stroke home Barisic’s measured cross from the left flank, but they were pegged back when Callum McGregor’s long-range attempt was deflected into the back of the net by Edouard.
45′ + 2′ HALF-TIME: Celtic 1-1 Rangers
45′ There will be two minutes of added time.
45′ Celtic’s McGregor is now back on the pitch after shaking off his injury.
44′ Callum McGregor now requires medical treatment after staying on the ground following a late challenge.
42′ Callum McGregor was certainly going for glory with his 25-yard effort, but the deflection off Edouard caught the goalkeeper off guard to ensure Celtic pulled level. Rangers are protesting over the ball hitting Edouard’s hand, but the referee waves away the protests.
42′ GOOOAL! Edouard makes it 1-1! The ball drops to Callum McGregor just outside the penalty area and he drills an ambitious effort at goal, but it takes a fortunate deflection off Edouard before trailing into the net. It looks as though it strikes the forward’s left hand before crossing the line, but the referee allows the goal to stand.
40′ Johnston surges into the left-hand side of the box before laying it off to Edouard to his right, but the striker takes too much time on the ball which leads to him being tackled by Davis.
38′ Brown is shown the yellow card for a late challenge on Kamara in midfield.
36′ Barisic deserves plenty of credit for his role in the opening goal as he produced a measured delivery to pick out Kent in a fine position, and the winger then made no mistake inside the box.
36′ GOOOAL! Kent makes it 1-0 to Rangers! Barisic edges forward on the left flank before squaring a delivery towards the unmarked Kent near the penalty spot, and his sweeping first-time effort clips off the left-hand post before hitting the net.
35′ OFF THE LINE! Celtic are really threatening now as Christie whips in another corner towards Jullien, but the defender sees his stooping header cleared off the line by Davis at the back post.
33′ That was certainly not a bad penalty by Christie as he aimed to nestle the ball into the far bottom corner, but Allan McGregor read his intentions to pull off an impressive save.
33′ SAVED! Christie drills the ball towards the bottom right-hand corner, but Allan McGregor guesses the right way and pushes it away with a superb save!
33′ Katic is booked for his foul on Jullien which led to the penalty.
32′ PENALTY! Christie whips a corner delivery into the box from the right flank, and Jullien is tugged back by Katic as he attempts to connect with the ball which leads to the referee pointing to the spot! Christie to take…
31′ Jack’s misplaced pass allows Edouard to cushion the ball into the path of Christie who surges towards the box, but he is tackled by Goldson just as he prepares to pull the trigger.
29′ Christie attempts to make a burst down the right channel before being met by a challenge from Katic, and the defender does well to ensure the ball deflects off Christie before trailing out for a Rangers throw-in.
27′ Forrest plays a neat ball into the path of Johnston on the left channel, and the midfielder then edges closer to the box before drilling a cross into the centre, but Christie is only able to direct his flicked effort well over the crossbar.
25′ Kent now whips in a corner from the right-hand side which eventually falls at the feet of Davis who must react quickly to the loose ball, but his first-time effort his blocked by the feet of Forster.
23′ Barisic whips in an in-swinging free-kick delivery from the left flank which Davis meets at the front post, but his header is deflected wide for a Rangers corner on the left-hand side.
21′ Edouard is allowed to run with the ball for the first time this match before being stopped in his tracks just outside the box, and Barisic then beats Frimpong to the loose ball near the right-hand byline.
19′ Frimpong glides forward on the right flank before squaring the ball to Christie in the centre of midfield, but he then lashes his 30-yard effort well over Allan McGregor’s crossbar.
17′ Rangers win a free-kick near the right-hand corner flag following Bolingoli’s foul on Morelos, but Tavernier’s delivery is headed away by the Celtic defence and Rangers are then unable to engineer an attempt on goal.
15′ Morelos travels forward into plenty of space on the left wing before cutting inside as he approaches the penalty area, but his promising run is then interrupted by Jullien and Morelos’ eventual long-range effort is straight into the hands of Forster.
14′ Morelos receives the ball with his back to goal on the fringes of the Celtic box, and he then aims to test Forster with an ambitious effort on the turn, but he fails to generate enough power behind his shot.
12′ Callum McGregor uses his quick feet to dart past Tavernier on the left flank before squeezing a low cross into the box, but Goldson meets the ball at the front post to quell the danger.
10′ Tavernier’s excellent long ball manages to pick out Morelos on the edge of the Celtic box, and Morelos then attempts to square a pass into the path of Aribo, but Jullien tracks back to make a crucial intervention.
8′ A neat passage of midfield play from Rangers enables Kent to spray the ball wide to Tavernier, but his floating cross is headed back his way by Jullien and Tavernier then strikes the rebound well over the bar.
6′ Barisic surges down the left flank before skidding a dangerous delivery into the box which Jullien fails to deal with, but his defensive partner Ajer is then on hand to thump the ball clear.
4′ Aribo collects the ball just outside the right-hand side of the box before laying it back to Davis on the edge of the area, but his scooped delivery is well read by Frimpong who nods it to safety.
2′ Ajer brings the ball out of defence before threading a pass through to Johnston in a promising midfield area, but he is dispossessed by Tavernier who then wins a free-kick for Rangers.
1′ The referee blows the whistle and Rangers get the Old Firm derby underway!
The players are now emerging from the tunnel as kick-off edges closer at Celtic Park.
Celtic have won each of their last 11 Scottish Premiership matches while scoring twice on each occasion, and they could now become the first team in the competition’s history to win 12 matches while scoring twice in each success. However, Rangers will be out to stop this as they aim to extend their overall unbeaten away record to 10 straight matches.
Lennon has made just one change to the Celtic side from their 2-1 win over St Mirren with Johnston starting in place of Ntcham, who has dropped to the bench. Meanwhile, there have been two changes made to the Rangers starting line-up from their 1-0 win over Kilmarnock, with Davis deemed fit enough to replace Arfield while Morelos starts in place of Defoe.
SUBS: Brandon Barker, George Edmundson, Jermain Defoe, Scott Arfield, Sheyi Ojo, Jon Flanagan, Wes Foderingham.
RANGERS (4-4-1-1): Allan McGregor; James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic, Borna Barisic; Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo, Steven Davis, Ryan Jack; Ryan Kent; Alfredo Morelos.
SUBS: Tomas Rogic, Leigh Griffiths, Graig Gordon, Moritz Bauer, Jonny Hayes, Olivier Ntcham, Nir Bitton.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Fraser Forster; Jeremie Frimpong, Christopher Jullien, Kristoffer Ajer, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo; Ryan Christie, Scott Brown; Callum McGregor, Michael Johnston, James Forrest; Odsonne Edouard.
Meanwhile, Rangers have embarked on a strong run of form since their crushing cup final defeat to Celtic. Steven Gerrard’s side qualified for the Europa League knock-out stage following a 1-1 draw with Young Boys, while they then won three consecutive league matches during December and kept three clean sheets in the process. The Ibrox outfit can now move within two points of Celtic at the summit with a victory in this match, but it should be noted they have not won at Celtic Park since 2010.
Celtic could move eight points clear of their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership table if they can seal a third successive derby win of the season. Neil Lennon’s men were triumphant in the two sides’ previous meetings this campaign, with the most recent of these seeing the 10-man Hoops seal a 1-0 win in the Scottish League Cup final back in December, and the Celtic Park outfit are now aiming to end the year on a high with their 12th consecutive league success.
Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of this Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Rangers!
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