Celtic’s derby specialist Kyogo bagged a double to make it five goals in three games against Rangers and fire Ange Postecoglou to within four wins of two-in-a-row in a pulsating Parkhead clash.
The Japanese star was yet again the hero as the champions moved TWELVE points clear of their fierce rivals thanks to a 3-2 win as they hammered the final nail into any realistic chance Michael Beale’s men had of keeping alive their slim Scottish Premiership title hopes.
Kyogo netted in either half to make it 28 goals for an impressive season with Jota also on the scoresheet and they needed him as Michael Beale’s men put up a real fight. James Tavernier netted a brace of his own to take his tally in light blue to a remarkable 100 goals for a full back. But it will be scant consolation with the title now out of his reach.
And much of that is down to their own sloppy defensive play with Ben Davies and John Souttar making huge blunders to gift Celtic their second and third goals. And they might also point the finger at Kevin Clancy and VAR Nick Walsh for ruling out an Alfredo Morelos goal that would have seen them take the lead.
The visitors suffered a huge pre-match blow with Connor Goldson ruled out and that saw John Souttar come in for his first start since the opening day of the season while Aaron Mooy returned from injury to replace Tomoki Iwata with Reo Hatate still crocked.
Parkhead was crackling with a full house of home fans and it was a daunting task for the visitors who had to try to cope with that - as well as their rivals who are sweeping all before them. Yet there were a few sloppy passes from the Hoops with Mooy careless - and that set the tone for a poor display from the Aussie - with a ball straight to Ryan Kent but he failed to make the most of it.
Kyogo then had the ball in the net in what looked like a dream start but the offside flag was correctly raised to the relief of the Ibrox side who didn’t look overawed in those early stages as might have been expected. Rangers looked dangerous and Cameron Carter-Vickers was the first name in referee Kevin Clancy’s book for coming through the back of Alfredo Morelos.
The first effort on target came from the champions but it was tame in the end as Hoops skipper’s low shot was saved by Allan McGregor, albeit he had to claim the ball at his second attempt. The veteran keeper then thwarted Jota as he beat away a curling shot from the Portuguese star.
The first half certainly didn’t go as predicted and there was a moment of huge controversy after 20 minutes when Rangers thought they had taken the lead. Borna Barisic swung in a corner and Morelos prodded the ball home after winning his battle with Alistair Johnston. But Clancy ruled the effort out for a foul by Morelos on the Canadian full back and VAR Nick Walsh backed him up.
It looked harsh but Celtic took full advantage and rubbed salt into Rangers wounds as they grabbed the lead midway through the first half. It was that man Kyogo yet again but O’Riley played such a key role to set him up with good work down the left and he picked out the Japanese star whose brilliant first touch teed him up to spin and fire home.
But Rangers deservedly got back level on the stroke of half time in stunning style. It was that man Tavernier who rifled in a trademark free kick off the underside of crossbar with Joe Hart well beaten after Matt O’Riley took out Malik Tillman just outside the box to pick up the fifth booking of the first half.
It was a crucial time to score and Gers picked up from where they left off early in the second half with Hart getting across to touch a net-bound Morelos half volley round the post as the home fans were getting edgy.
But it was Gers who were nervy when Borna Barisic made an unbelievable goalline clearance to deny Kyogo a second - but it wouldn't have counted as the offside flag was up against Jota.
Kyogo, though, wouldn't be denied his second of the match - this time with a little help from the visitors. Ben Davies should have had a simple clearance from a ball in from the left but failed to put it out for a corner not once but twice as he gifted possession to Jota and he squared for Kyogo to fire home.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Rangers shot themselves in the foot again with Souttar the fall guy to gift Celtic a third. The former Hearts man was slack with a pass back to McGregor and Jota nipped in to round the keeper and slide home.
That started the party for the home fans but Rangers wouldn't go away and Tavernier got his own second as the skipper got on the end of Barisic's header to power a downward header beyond Hart.
Here’s five talking points...
Summed up
The Hoops weren't even firing on all cylinders but they took their chances when they came their way - and that's why they will be champions again. Beale will actually be happy with much of his side's play, particularly in the first half, but they made huge defensive errors which cost them at the final two goals. Beale went for it with his attacking line up. Many might have thought he would have gone with Todd Cantwell or Malik Tillman but he opted for both. There was also no place for the pace of Fashion Sakala who has had some joy against the Hoops. And it's hard to argue with it given how the performance went but in Kyogo, Celtic have a player who can make the difference.
Blood and thunder
We know Old Firm derbies aren’t always the best when it comes to quality but it’s the fact they are pulsating encounters which has so many fans all over the world glued to the box. And that was the case here. It’s been one-sided, particularly at Parkhead, in many recent derby games and a bit of a non-event.
But Rangers made a real fight for it and Celtic were unusually subdued. The tackles were flying, the cards were out and it was a real contest at last between two fierce rivals and this was an enthralling encounter.
Another VARce
Andy Walker didn’t have to wait long to have an excuse to put the boot into VAR again - and this time Sky Sports had no reason to rap his knuckles. All the former Celtic striker and his co-commentator and ex Old Firm rival Ally McCoist did was agree to slam the decision not to allow a Morelos strike to stand.
It would have been no more than the Ibrox side deserved at that time but Kevin Clancy ruled that the Colombian had fouled Alistair Johnston as they jostled for the ball at a Borna Barisic corner. It looked like it was six of one and half a dozen of the other but Nick Walsh in Clydesdale House agreed with Clancy’s initial decision and it appeared harsh on Rangers.
Amazing AJ
Who would have thought Celtic could have sold Josip Juranovic for £10 million and signed a replacement for a fee in the region of £3m and upgrade in the right back position? That’s the way it seems early on with Alistair Johnston making a seamless transition from MLS side Montreal.
The 24-year-old has just thrived on on being at a club the size of the Scottish Premiership champions and was outstanding here. He was excellent defensively, tenacious in the tackle and brilliant going forward. No wonder the fans love him - and the feeling is mutual.
Fan frustration
It must have been one of the strangest feelings for James Tavernier to score a scorcher of a free kick – then add a second – at the home of his fiercest rivals and not have any of his fans to celebrate with. There are now growing calls for the visiting support situation to be sorted between the clubs and that’s coming from ex players of both clubs. There won’t be any Celtic fans at Ibrox but there is something lost from the occasion and that was again evident.
