It was the desperate goalmouth scramble that could perhaps sum up a season. As Reo Hatate shot low to his left, and after Jack Butland made the penalty save, the Old Firm was hanging in the balance as an afternoon of fire and chaos flipped on its head. But, at the third attempt, Hatate forced a crucial equaliser over the line to salvage a point for Celtic and deny Rangers all three, while leaving one clear winner. With nine games to go, it is advantage Hearts once again.
A furious second-half comeback from two goals down kept Celtic’s challenge alive, but only just, on a day at Ibrox that neither club could afford to lose. It was a desperately tough blow for Rangers but, by the end, Danny Rohl’s side could have no complaints. Celtic had highlighted their shortcomings just as Rangers had fully illustrated Celtic’s after Youssef Chermiti’s astonishing double had the hosts in full control by the break.
