Sinclair condemns Rangers to defeat in Old Firm derby
GLASGOW: Scott Sinclair grabbed the winner as Celtic came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory in a thrilling Old Firm derby against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday to extend their lead in the table to 19 points.
Veteran Kenny Miller had given Rangers a deserved 12th minute lead before Moussa Dembele fired Celtic level before the break.
Both sides had chances before Sinclair scored in the 70th minute to fi re Celtic to their 15th league victory in a row and end Rangers’ unbeaten record at Ibrox, which stretched back to September 2015.
The win moves Celtic 19 points clear of their bitter rivals in second place and extends their unbeaten run to 24 domestic matches since the start of the season.
CelticmanagerBrendanRodgers -- whose first Old Firm derby in September saw his side overwhelm Rangers 5-1 -- was ecstatic.
“I thought we thoroughly deserved it. We needed to adjust one or two things at half time but I thought in the second half we were brilliant,” said Rodgers.
“We looked a real threat every time we went forward. I’m disappointed probably just to have two goals.”
His Rangers counterpart Mark Warburton bemoaned his side’s missed opportunities.
“We’ve lost our record at home which is very disappointing,” said Warburton.
“We’ve had some very good chances. It’s about the fine margins and taking your chances when they come along.”
It was the first Old Firm derby at Ibrox in nearly five years and the thunderous noise that swirled round the rain- swept stadium seemed to inspire the home side as Rangers made a determined start.
Their early pressure paid off when Miller fired them ahead.
Erik Sviatchenko lost the ball just outside the box to Josh Windass whose clever pass down the right for James Tavernier carved the Celtic defence apart.
Tavernier then whipped a fierce cross into the box and 37-year-old Miller got to the ball first to tap it in from a couple of yards out to send the home fans wild. — AFP