HOOPS’ LACK OF APPETITE WAS GLARING
RANGERS refused to give Celtic a guard of honour and made them run a gauntlet instead.
Celtic wilted in the glare of early summer on a day in which the sun may have set on Neil Lennon’s chances of becoming permanent Hoops boss.
It’s no disgrace to lose to Rangers, looking more credible than ever under Steven Gerrard, but this capitulation would have stung even the fiercest Parkhead diehards.
The eight-in-a-row champions may have been hampered by the loss of their two most influential players, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney, but that doesn’t begin to explain the poverty of their display.
Neil Lennon wanted a parade for his players, but had to make do with James Tavernier holding the line of his team-mates walking on to the pitch as 49,000 fans bellowed their animosity towards Scott Brown and Co.
Strangely, Celtic players seemed intimidated by the atmosphere, a toxic concoction of naked hatred and blatant sectarianism before it gave way to a cacophony of crowing in the final stages.
Lennon was taunted on 70 minutes, with Rangers 2-0 up, by that depressing dirge labelling him a sad fenian b ****** , just as Steven Gerrard had been targeted at Parkhead earlier in the campaign.
This was not a good day for Lennon, his tactical error in the set-up of his team all but acknowledged after half an hour when he switched to a flat back four with Rangers already a goal to the good.
He had started with a midfield five, but the failure of Jonny Hayes and Michael Johnston to find any meaningful ball in wide areas, as Rangers took a grip of the centre of the park, was costly.
This was a fine day for Gerrard, who can reflect on a debut campaign as boss in which progress has been made.
They will have to improve on their dreadful roller-coaster domestic form but they have proved they are a match for Celtic in head-to-head matches.
Rangers’ opening goal after less than two minutes from Tavernier certainly helped settle their nerves and the second, swashbuckling strike after 63 minutes underlined their surge of confidence.
Glen Kamara stepped away from Brown as if he was swerving effortlessly to avoid a pedestrian on a busy pavement and his pass, superbly dummied by Jermain Defoe, fell perfectly for man of the match Scott Arfield to bury the decisive goal.
That it took until six minutes from time for Celtic to test Wes Foderingham – he saved superbly from Oliver Burke – was an affront to a side that has been dominant this season.
There’s a significant summer rebuild required at Parkhead this summer, no matter if they complete the treble Treble, while Rangers will add to a solid foundation established by Gerrard in his first season.
Celtic fans crammed into a corner of the Govan Stand started the match with the sun streaming into their faces, before dark shadows descended on the full-time whistle.
The majority of Rangers fans basked in the light. The challenge for their side is to be this illuminating more often next season.