Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bain: Old Firm win is biggest of my career
SCOTT Bain enjoyed the “unbelievable” post-match scenes at Ibrox after his Celtic debut ended in a dramatic 3-2 win over Rangers.
The 26-year-old, who joined the Parkhead club on loan from Dundee at the end of January, was pitched into the Ladbrokes Premiership clash in Govan as replacement for injured Dorus de Vries, who himself had recently come in for No 1 Craig Gordon.
Bain’s first duty was to pick the ball out of the net in the third minute after he was beaten by a Josh Windass drive, which sparked a classic Old Firm encounter.
Hoops midfielder Tom Rogic levelled and, after Daniel Candeias restored the Light Blues’ lead, Celtic striker Moussa Dembele equalised just before the break.
Hoops defender Jozo Simunovic was sent off for using an arm to brush off Gers striker Alfredo Morelos on 56 minutes before 20-year-old substitute Odsonne Edouard, on loan from Paris St Germain and on for James Forrest, curled in the third on 69 minutes.
Bain then made a couple of crucial saves as Rangers pressed for the leveller and was glad to gather the ball after Morelos somehow managed to hit the post from a few yards out in the dying moments of the match.
After the final whistle confirmed Celtic had gone nine points clear of the Gers at the top of the table with a game in hand, Bain joined in with his team-mates as they celebrated in front of the ecstatic travelling support.
Bain, grateful to see an Alfredo Morelos strike hit the post and bounce back into his arms right at the end, said: “It was the biggest game I ever played in and the biggest win I have ever had.
“The scenes at the end of the game were unbelievable, nothing I have ever seen before.
“The fans were superb and I just wanted to savour that after the game and really enjoy it.
“I don’t normally do that but today was special, the way we won the match, going behind twice, going a man down.
“I will definitely look back at the end of my career on this and think that was an unbelievable debut to make, especially here at Ibrox. “I thought I handled it well. “I woke to a text at 8am this morning.
“I knew Dorus might be struggling so I had plenty time to get myself right and focused on the game.
“I was glad that I could contribute to the win.”