SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS Celtic emphatically rounded off their dominance of Rangers this season with a superb 5-1 win at Ibrox.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were 2-0 winners over their bitter rivals in the semi-final of the Scottish FA Cup last weekend and, having been on target at Hampden Park, Scott Sinclair and Callum McGregor also helped themselves to derby day goals this time around.
Leigh Griffiths thundered in his 15th of the season during a rampant opening from the visitors and defenders Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig got in on the act after the break.
Kenny Miller scored to provide scant consolation for Rangers, who are nine points shy of second-placed Aberdeen, having played a game more, and a gargantuan 36 behind their all-conquering neighbours.
A lunchtime ordeal for Pedro Caixinha’s men began after only six minutes when Myles Beerman clattered through Patrick Roberts in the penalty area, leaving Sinclair to coolly send Wes Foderingham the wrong way.
McGregor nipped in to hustle Emerson Hyndman out of possession in the 18th minute and fed Griffiths to crash into the top corner. A similarly venomous strike from the Celtic forward clattered off the crossbar and Sinclair shot wastefully wide at the back post.
The 2-0 half-time margin did little justice to Celtic’s complete dominance and, after Griffiths had one chalked out for offside, they accepted more rewards against wholly overmatched opponents.
McGregor appeared to have let the chance pass him by as he lost possession on a driving run, but Roberts collected the loose ball and flicked a pass for his team-mate to slide a shot into the bottom corner.
Boyata headed home the fourth, as Rangers proved their set-piece defending to be as effective as their efforts from open play, while Miller did what he could to lift the mood with a fine solo run and finish.
Celtic saved the best until last, as Lustig weaved forward through a disorientated cluster of blue and fired past Foderingham into the right corner in front of the jubilant travelling support.
It wasn’t tongue in cheek though. Crook has has several discussions on his shows about this. Fair play to Ferguson for slapping that down the way he did
It was a question and he answered it perfectly. My god… the drama.
@IrishOwl: the same question he has answered a few times already.with crook been the “chief football correspondent” thought he would know the answer coming better than most.he was 100% been smart and trying make light of it now. Gobsh**t for talksh**t.
@Paully kells: think your a bitter man paulie. always angry. maybe open a beer and relax a bit.
We have had our fair share of English born players playing for Ireland, not to mention the hatred towards two current English internationals who were born and grew up in England. We had a CEO that wanted to be the 33rd team in a world cup. Don’t think we’re in any position to criticize these questions.
@Louise Murphy: he’s not bitter at all Lou, I enjoy Paullys comments here and on this occasion he is right. Mute him if it annoys you.
@Louise Murphy: not atal..but I’d say the young lad is getting rather sick of the same question over and over..he’s made it clear…take care
Why do the Sky sports commentators pronounce the foreign player’s names properly eg Henry or Pires , bit they don’t pay the irish player’s the same respect eg Moran, Kernaghan, Hourihane (though they do pronounce this name properly now since he took them up on it live on television)?
@Louis Jacob: Probably for the same reason Hollywood can’t do the Irish accent.
@Louis Jacob: bit they dont?
The Brits have such a polite way of being ignorant.
I suspect a lot of German fans would like to see Harry Kane line out for them. But the English wouldn’t take it too well if he was constantly pestered about it. Tin ear stuff really..
Crook-cheif football correspondent for talk sh**t he hasn’t much between the ears,and he knows damn well he was been disrespectful, well done to Evan with he’s reply put him into place.
The audacity of that question !!
Ignorant on so many levels. Ferguson is ineligible for England now. He doesn’t feel English at all. He is Irish and proud, born and bred here with an Irish father. Yes his mother is English but very disrespectful to be still asking him now.
Talk Sport is trash!
And Rice can’t remember singing come out you black and tans now
I’m all mixed up regarding the rules, does anyone actually know what they are?
You don’t hear them asking any of the English players why they are committed to England……..
A lit bit of English mischief to get some harmless revenge for the abuse Rice and Grealish got when they switched over.
@John Pembroke: deserved all the abuse they got, pair of shitehawks