STROLL MODEL

Another show of dominance from Gers in derby should have Parkhead alarm bells ringing

CELTIC have got to hope this momentous title race is not going to be decided on their head to heads with Rangers.

If it does there’s every chance they’ll be waving goodbye to the fabled 10 and perhaps saying hello to a new manager because whoever finishes second may not be around to make amends next season.

For the third Old Firm match in a row Rangers outplayed Neil Lennon’s team, who somehow managed to win the first of them – the Betfred Cup Final – but lost the derby at Parkhead three weeks later.

They were back at the same venue 10 months on and while everything had changed in terms of atmosphere, with the empty stands eerily echoing the players’ shouts, nothing had changed on the playing front.

Rangers, as they had been in December, were miles ahead in terms of quality, use of the ball and in game management. In fact, in every facet of the game they were on a different level and although Celtic were shorn of some of their key players through Covid and injury, there was no excuse for their lack of urgency and fight.

For the first time in a league match in 11 years, a Celtic team did not register a shot on target.

For that to happen at home in an Old Firm match is testament to a Rangers defence magnificently marshalled by Connor Goldson, who found time to score both goals, and Filip Helander.

But it also tells a story of Celtic’s inability to make anything of note happen. Moi Elyounoussi missed a good chance, lobbing over after getting the better of Goldson for the only time in the match, and sub Leigh Griffiths rounded Allan McGregor only to carry the ball to an impossible angle. That was it.

Steven Gerrard’s men, on the other

DAVID McCARTHY AT CELTIC PARK

course. Goldson lost Elyounoussi at Tavernier’s free-kick and a flick of the head was all that was needed, although questions have to be asked of two of Lennon’s new signings.

Shane Duffy should have held the line as the delivery came in. If he had, Goldson would have been offside. Instead, he took a step backwards and played his ex-Brighton team-mate on.

Then Vasilis Barkas should have done better. Goldson’s header wasn’t right in the corner and it didn’t have a huge amount of pace on it. It was one a top-class keeper would have saved.

The goal allowed Rangers to dictate how the game was played.

They were happy giving Celtic’s back three possession but as soon as the ball entered their territory they went hunting in packs to retrieve it and set their own attacks in motion.

They were the hungrier team and fed off Celtic’s insecurities. Lennon was hamstrung in his team selection paid dividends and put clear daylight between the teams.

Another rat-a-tat of passes on the Rangers right opened up the space for Arfield to fizz a low ball across goal and although Duffy denied him at the first attempt, Goldson kept his composure to slide the ball past Barkas at the second time of asking.

The margin of victory could have been greater. Kent was denied by a terrific Kristoffer Ajer block but Rangers had the game won long before the last blast of John Beaton’s whistle.

Gerrard said: “We can still be better in certain parts but it was a real mature performance and we got what we deserved.

“The result is all we were after – the three points were very important and the players have delivered.

“It was a calm performance and it is very rare you get that here.”

Lennon believed his side could have taken something from the game and