Sunday Mail (UK)

Between strikers and backline so big

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remain w we Glasgo white, the of “Kings & w green on.” Glasgo is still en run unbeat players on their Old Firm debut and it didn’t help them.

I’ve played for both sides in this fixture – and it’s not easy.

Look at how Scott Brown handles the game with such maturity now – which wasn’t maybe true a few years ago.

Cel t ic’s opening goal knocked Rangers out of their shape. They started trying to play a higher press. That became one of their biggest problems because the di stance between thei r strikers and their back-line was enormous.

Look at the second goal. Rangers’ second line should have been 20 yards further forward. If you don’t move in relation to your front players, But I’m afraid the Rangers manager is talking RUBBISH. The incident that enraged him so much didn’t even warrant a yellow card for the Celtic captain. For me, it was a case of six and two threes. Brown certainly had his arm up but he was just marking his territory more than anything.

Match ref Craig Thomson was right not to take any action.

If what he did was was causing bodily harm to the boy, then Morelos needs help.

And the Colombian striker has a bit of a cheek because he certainly put himself about too.

I’m surprised that Caixinha made such a big deal of the incident after the match – but I think I know why.

He’s probably just trying to take the focus away from his own side.

He’ll be feeling the heat having lost his first two Old Firm games at Ibrox.

So he’s trying to shift the focus on to something else.

The Portuguese boss was doing his nut on the touchline but, for me, it wasn’t even a caution.

Where Caixinha was right to have a go was when his team were denied a penalty in the first half.

Jozo Simunovic tackled Morelos in the box and they both went down.

I’d give a spot- kick for that. It wasn’t the worst challenge in the world. Nothing nasty or malicious.

But he left enough of an obstacle there for the boy to try and get over – and he didn’t and when you don’t play with a three in the middle with a de s i g nat ed defen s i v e midfielder, you’re in big trouble if the ball drops into the space left by the back line.

Josh Windass should have gone into a recovery position inside his full- back. But he recovers outside, allowing Patrick Roberts to come in the way he likes. Ross McCrorie – who had a good game – misses Leigh Griffiths’ run.

You see it so often with centre backs, not seeing the blind spots, although it was great movement and a finish.

Yes, the tactical elements are important – but to have the better players makes the significan­t difference. quite make it. That’s a penalty for me.

Simunovic wasn’t trying to hurt the Rangers striker but it was a foul and Thomson should have given a penalty, no doubt about it.

Morelos just got there first when it didn’t look like he would. No need for a yellow card – a spot-kick would have sufficed.

That’s probably the only complaint I’d have with the ref ’s performanc­e.

Although keeper Craig Gordon might disagree.

He copped a sore one after a Morelos challenge.

The striker had already been booked for a foul on Dedryck Boyata and he was lucky to avoid another.

The ball bobbled in the box and it was halfway between the pair.

But the Rangers man was reckless as he went up for it. He wasn’t in control of himself and he was very fortunate to get away with it.

Fair play to the other players for not making more of an issue of it.

Generally, Craig had a decent game. He was always in control of the game and will feel he did fine.

He let things go as far as he could and that’s a mark of how experience­d he is. Not many referees would let an Old Firm game go as long as he did with no yellow cards.

It’s the old adage, you keep your powder dry – until you’ve got to use it. You can’t argue with that.

Letting a few incidents go without action can be a risky strategy.

Everyone knows it doesn’t take much for an Old Firm game can get out of hand. But Craig is experience­d enough to handle that. He knew what he was doing all along and it worked sweetly for

him yesterday. Patrick to Robert set up s’ perfec Celtic’ Leigh Griffith t ball s s for top second drawer goalwas entire . It split Range rs the and put defenc the e to game bed.

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