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.
Well done! I love the comment that he gave everything and nothing was left in the tank! Because he he gave his all he was content with the result. Great philosophy, you don’t always have to win to be content!
@Con Cussed: precisely, give of your best and you can have zero regrets. All champs in my eyes, just the effort and dedication it takes just getting to the starting line of the biggest event in Paralympic sport……
@Con Cussed: it’s great to see so many athletes putting in season’s bests and personal bests. To win a medal is obviously fantastic but to go and give your all, challenge and peak at the Olympics and Paralympics must be an amazing feeling.