Hoops’ numbers game leaves Gers nursing a Hogmanay hangover
NINETEEN points clear, with a game in hand.
Winners of their last 15 Premiership games on the spin.
Undefeated in their first 24 domestic matches, just three shy of the record set by the Lisbon Lions half-a-century ago.
Whichever way you tally Celtic’s numbers this season, they add up to a daunting dominance of the Scottish scene.
This latest success was especially significant in that it came against a Rangers side who themselves hadn’t lost at Ibrox in the last 15 months.
Mark Warburton and his men had promised to have a real go at the league leaders and here, in the endof- December drizzle, they proved true to their word.
From the first whistle, they zipped into their challenges with Rob Kiernan – in the news during the build- up for his alleged punch on St Johnstone’s Steven Anderson – setting the tone with an early lunge on Scott Sinclair.
When the hosts had the ball, they fairly fizzed with intent, Barrie McKay driving forward again and again.
It was good stuff from the hosts, and it was no real surprise when they took the lead with less than quarter-of-an-hour on the clock.
Eric Sviatchenko admittedly gave them a bit of a start, the Celtic defender surrendering possession just outside his own box.
From that moment on, though, there was plenty to admire about the way Rangers constructed their opener.
A clever pass from Josh Windass sprung the overlapping James Tavernier in behind the Hoops backline.
With time and space, the Englishman looked up and sent the perfect ball across to Kenny Miller who, just a few yards out, tapped home.
Three sides of the Ibrox ground erupted in an explosion of noise and colour, with Miller, the former Celt, ecstatic at his breakthrough.
The goal came at a price, with Joe Garner, who had fallen to the ground in the build- up, having to be
stretchered off, with Martyn Waghorn taking his place.
Light Blues boss Mark Warburton is fond of observing that goals change games, and it was certainly the case here.
Stung by the concession, Celtic regrouped and started to demonstrate the combination of spirit and slickness which had send them into the match with a record of 14 Premiership wins on the spin.
In particular, the advanced midfield three of Stuart Armstrong, Sinclair and James Forrest began to exert their collective muscle.
Their movement pulled the Rangers backline – a three of Kiernan, Clint Hill and Danny Wilson – this way and that.
Sinclair played a key role in the equaliser, hitting a low shot off the post that was scrambled away for a corner.
The former Manchester City man took the set-piece himself and made full use of it, picking out Moussa Dembele who was lurking with intent, deep in the Rangers box.
The Frenchman didn’t have much time. Once those wearing blue shirts came alive to the danger, they dashed towards him as one.
As it turned out, he didn’t need it.
He took a second to steady himself and then hammered a left-foot shot past Wes Foderingham, high into the net.
While Miller has now scored nine goals against Celtic in total, Dembele has hit five against Rangers in one season.
It is an impressive record and it almost got even better, the striker denied by the crossbar in the second period.
Both teams made attacking second-half changes, with Rangers introducing Joe Dodoo and Celtic bringing on Patrick Roberts.
It was the latter which was to yield an impact, with Roberts involved in Celtic’s second goal.
The little Manchester City loanee supplied the pass to Stuart Armstrong which allowed the midfielder to pick out Scott Sinclair for a tap-in at the back post.
Rangers, who’d had a Wilson header denied by a great stop from Craig Gordon, didn’t let their heads go down and came agonisingly close to making it 2-2.
Again Miller was at the centre of it, hitting the post from a fine assist by Andy Halliday – cruel punishment for the veteran who deserved more for his afternoon’s efforts.