Scan wait for Shane
STEVEN GERRARD blasted referee Willie Collum for costing him his first defeat as Rangers boss in the one game he didn’t want to lose.
Gerrard was left fuming over a foul that went unpunished in the build-up to Celtic's winning goal from Olivier Ntcham in the 62nd minute.
Collum ignored a clear trip by Tom Rogic on Ryan Jack and turned a deaf ear to pleas from fourth official John Beaton over his microphone that he should have penalised the Celtic midfielder.
Gerrard, going head-tohead with his former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, questioned the value of even having a fourth official if the referee is going to ignore his advice.
He said: “I've spoken to the referee and I've said my piece. We had a decent chat.
“For me it's a foul and it's also one for the fourth official, who is shouting down his mic ‘foul, foul, foul.'
“The ref has ignored that advice but for me it's a blatant foul, he sweeps his legs. Ryan has done well to get himself between man and ball and for me it's a clear foul.
“He (the referee) disagreed. He didn't think it was a foul. When he sees it again I think he will change his mind."
Celtic are now unbeaten in the last 12 Old Firm clashes, while the defeat leaves Rangers languishing in seventh place in the Scottish Premier League table, with just one win in four games.
Celtic were by far the superior side and hit the bar four times before Ntcham ended a brilliant counter-attack by slotting home.
Gerrard insists he is pleased with the progress he is making at Ibrox and warned Celtic that Rangers will be even stronger when the hated rivals meet again later in the season.
He added: “I've seen enough here to make me believe we can be a match for Celtic in the next game. When the next derby comes around we will be better.
“We are going in the right direction. This is a setback but it's about taking it on the chin, learning how to get better, and going on another run after the international break. That's what achieving things at the top is all about.”
Celtic boss Rodgers said his side were full value for the three points but gave Gerrard credit for how organised he had Rangers.
“We were the dominant team from start to finish," he said.
“Defensively we were strong. We pressed the game well and had the courage and quality to play. Steven has done well getting them organised so we had to be patient.
“The scoreline doesn't really reflect our dominance. The only disappointment is we didn't score more goals.” SHANE Long’s availability for Ireland’s upcoming games against Wales and Poland will become clearer today.
The striker is a major doubt having had a scan yesterday on the foot injury he shipped when forced off in Southampton’s win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
There was speculation yesterday that Cardiff City midfielder Harry Arter may be omitted from Martin O’neill’s trimmed down squad when it gathers for training in Dublin today.
Mirror Sport revealed 10 days ago that Arter, Jon Walters and assistant manager Roy Keane had been involved in heated bust-ups in the build-up to the USA friendly in June.
In an interview with this newspaper, O’neill confirmed there had been “altercations” but claimed the matter had been “defused”.