Another day in Paradise as Sir Rod Stewart enjoys Celtic victory
● Rangers manager wants to fine striker after fifth red card of season and give cash to fans
Celtic fan and singer Sir Rod Stewart was all smiles as he posed for photographs with his sons inside Celtic Park during the half-time interval of yesterday’s Old Firm derby. The match, which saw Celtic beat Rangers 2-1, ended with players from both sides involved in a furious altercation after the final whistle.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard finally lost patience with Alfredo Morelos as he revealed his intention to punish the Colombian striker for the straight red card he received in the 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park.
Morelos was sent off in the first half for aiming a flailing arm in the face of Celtic captain Scott Brown. It was a fifth red card of the season – one of them later rescinded – for the 22-yearold who has also collected a staggering 17 bookings.
Gerrard has steadfastly backed Morelos throughout the campaign as he seeks to refine the conduct of his 29-goal top scorer. But after an Old Firm defeat which left Celtic 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership table with just seven games remaining, Gerrard accepted he could no longer defend Morelos.
“No, I can’t,” said Gerrard. “I’ve gone above and beyond for Alfredo. I’ll continue to protect him, support him and love him, because of the player and the person he is.
“But I’ve got to draw a line. He’ll be punished. I’ll recommend to the board he’s fined a week’s wages and that the money should go to the supporters who came today.
“They are the ones who’ll suffer from his lack of discipline, along with his team-mates. The money is no use to the players. It’s more use to the supporters, so that’s what I’ll recommend.
“Will he get the message? That’s a question you’ll have to ask the player himself. I’m sitting here hoping and wishing and waiting.
“I can honestly say, hand on heart, I have done everything, as have his teammates and my support staff. At the same time there’s been other ill-discipline through the team that has hurt us this season. So the rules will be changed moving forward. I’ll deal with that.”
Morelos’ dismissal was the first flashpoint of what proved to be an ill-tempered afternoon. Ryan Kent, who cancelled out Odsonne Edouard’s opener for Celtic, was fortunate to escape a red card when he lashed out at Brown following James Forrest’s 86th-minute winner for the champions. Kent is likely to be the subject of retrospective action from the Scottish FA, as may several of those involved in ugly scenes at the final whistle when several Rangers players objected furiously to the manner of Brown’s celebrations in front of the visiting fans.
Andy Halliday, booked during the
match for a foul on Edouard, was given a second yellow card by referee Bobby Madden in the tunnel after the game for his part in the melee.
“I feel for Andy,” said Gerrard. “Celtic are well within their rights to celebrate. They’ve won the game and they’ve stretched their lead. We celebrated when we won the last Old Firm game so you are well within your rights.
“But I can’t understand why a guy then decides to celebrate ten yards away from the two per cent of Rangers fans in the ground when they have 98 per cent home support. Andy went in to protect his own people – I would have probably done that myself.”
Celtic interim manager Neil Lennon defended Brown, insisting the blame lay squarely at Rangers’ door.
“Browny got elbowed and then he got punched or pushed in the face,” said Lennon. “It’s disgraceful.
“You can’t put the two in one basket. Our players kept their discipline very well and Rangers should have been down to nine men rather than ten.
“Scott Brown is Scott Brown. He is a veteran of these games and was brilliant again today. He knows how to handle the occasion, how to handle the opposition, he knows how to handle himself. I didn’t see his celebration, I didn’t see where he went. He takes a lot of flak and maybe he’s given a bit back.
“Again, it’s like he’s the bad boy but he’s not. He’s just giving a bit back because of the amount of abuse he takes. I understand it because I’ve been there quite a few times.”