THREE AND JUST SO EASY
Honeymoon is over for Van Bronckhorst as toiling champions are ripped apart by Postecoglou’s swashbuckling Celtic
ON A night when a blistering 45 minutes of attacking football propelled Celtic to the top of the Premiership, this was more than a one-sided victory. Two years since they last beat Rangers in a game of any description, it felt like a statement.
This was a huge moment for Ange Postecoglou. A vindication of the Australian’s high-tempo, high-risk, high-reward style.
With 14 games to play, it’s too soon for champagne; a point made by captain Callum McGregor as he soaked up the applause of supporters at full-time. Yet the last time these bitter rivals met in a midweek league game was December 2011 when a Joe Ledley header saw Celtic leapfrog Rangers at the top of the table.
Neil Lennon’s side went on to win the league that season and, with a place in the Champions League group stage the likely reward for this season’s champions, the significance of this result — in terms of finance and prestige — can’t be overstated.
Before kick-off, Rangers were unbeaten in their last seven meetings with their city rivals. That record went in feeble fashion in the end, Celtic keeper Joe Hart forced into action just once during a first half when the home side scored three times. But for the brilliance of Allan McGregor, this could have been another of the ritual Old Firm humiliations Rangers endured at the lowest ebb of the Graeme Murty era.
Since the resumption of play after the winter break, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have shipped seven points to Aberdeen, Ross County and their greatest rivals. This was also the first time they’ve shipped three goals in back-to-back league games since 1986.
Aaron Ramsey was watching forlornly from the stands after his deadline-day arrival from Juventus and, on this evidence, the decision to leave pre-contract signing John Souttar at Hearts until the summer looks a misjudgment.
Celtic made their transfer moves early and, in Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate, they have uncovered a gem. A player who narrowly pipped right-back Josip Juranovic for man of the match.
Rangers were blown away in a first half when Celtic scored three goals and played with a relentless speed and tempo. McGregor celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday and, after an awful day in Dingwall last Saturday, made significant amends with a string of brilliant saves from the luckless Giorgos Giakoumakis.
It took Celtic five minutes to set the tone. The strike came from a corner and proved a calamitous business for Rangers. Nigerian international team-mates Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey went for the same ball and collided, Bassey heading to the edge of the area then crashing to the deck. Hatate didn’t hang around enquiring after his opponent’s welfare.
The midfielder lashed a slightly deflected shot from 18 yards into the far bottom corner.
Confusion reigned after the goal as Bassey needed lengthy treatment. Keeper McGregor argued the play should have stopped for a head knock, forcing referee Bobby Madden to consult with his assistant. Given the speed of events, there was no real question of the goal being chalked off and Celtic had the early lead. Rangers had yet to kick the ball.
In the opening half hour, the home side had countless chances to add to their lead. Not for the first time in this fixture, McGregor made one save after another. Celtic must have felt they’d been in this movie before.
There was a brilliant double stop after 14 minutes. A defensive error from James Tavernier gifted Jota an unexpected chance to rattle a rasping angled drive at goal. The Rangers keeper pushed the ball up into the air. Giakoumakis attacked the header with real venom but goalie’s instincts were faultless.
Celtic opened Rangers up down the right flank minutes later. Juranovic rolled the ball to the uncontainable Liel Abada in space. A weighted cut back picked out Giakoumakis and the Celtic striker hit his rising shot well. Yet
again, McGregor relied on sheer reactions to keep the hosts out.
When Giakoumakis then failed to connect properly with a Juranovic low cross, the ball lodged between the Rangers No1’s legs and Parkhead groaned in unison. They couldn’t keep wasting chances.
Rangers learned that, too, moments after their only real opportunity of the opening half. With four minutes until half-time, the Celtic defence parted like the Red Sea. Aribo’s through ball for Scott Arfield seemed perfectly weighted. Kudos to hart for diving low at the midfielder’s feet and grabbing it cleanly. It would be his only real save of the night.
Celtic took full advantage of the reprieve, grabbing their second goal within a minute. A deft passing move saw Abada feed the opening goalscorer hatate in a pocket of space between the midfield and back line. The technique was outstanding, the Japanese midfielder bending the ball from 20 yards out between the upright and McGregor’s outstretched hand. It was a strike of power, technique and brilliance.
Celtic would have settled for a twogoal lead at half-time. With Rangers stale and badly shaken, however, they chose to go for the jugular instead. This time hatate was the provider rather than the scorer, chasing a lost cause on the left flank to wrap himself around the ball and curl a delicious cross towards the centre of goal
Abada had enjoyed a superb first half and you could see the Israeli’s intent from the moment he began sprinting from the right. he was aided and abetted by some bizarre ball-watching from Borna Barisic, the full-back allowing the winger to race in and volley the ball past McGregor from close range.
Despite the early missed chances, despite the heroics of McGregor, Celtic went in at half-time three goals ahead — Parkhead a scene of throbbing, bustling joy.
The reaction of Van Bronckhorst had to be quick and decisive — and it was. Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack and Fashion Sakala replaced the leaden Barisic, Glen Kamara and Amad Diallo. The unsustainable tempo of Celtic’s first-half attacking offered Rangers some measure of hope, and Jack improved them. Arfield’s rising volley fizzed over the bar nine minutes into the second half. As Celtic visibly wilted — as they so often do — Postecoglou reacted by bringing on Daizen Maeda — a Japan substitute in the World Cup qualifying win over Saudi Arabia 24 hours earlier — and James Forrest. With 18 minutes to play, hatate also left to a rousing reception. The Japanese had marked his first Old Firm game with two goals and an eye-catching display. The fifth Ibrox boss in succession to lose his first Old Firm game, the honeymoon is over for Van Bronckhorst.