Arfield strike seals Old Firm

● Early Tavernier free-kick sets the tone at Ibrox ● Slipshod Celtic way short of title-winning form ● Flanagan lucky not to see red for elbow on Brown

Tavernier 2, Arfield 63 crowned eight-in-a-row champions. R angers snapp ed into challenges with vigour and urgency from the start, an approach typified by Ryan Kent when he closed down Mikael Lustig in the build up to the opening goal. As Kent robbed Lustig of possession, Michael Johnston was left with little option but to halt the onloan Liverpool winger with a clear foul just outside the penalty area.

The free -kick, in a wide position on the left, didn’t seem to present an obvious opportunity for a direct attempt at goal. But the Celtic defence were totally deceived by Tavernier’s whipped delivery as the ball soared beyond the flat-footed Scott Bain and nestled in the left-hand corner of the Celtic goalkeeper’s net.

Celtic were struggling to come to terms with a formation which had a curiously experimental look with Johnston and Jonny Hayes effectively operating as wing-backs while Oliver Burke joined Odsonne Edouard up front.

Lennon switched to a more orthodox back four midway through a first half in which R angers would feel their general dominance should have brought further reward.

Defoe, again leading the line in preference to top scorer Alfredo Morelos, l i n k e d u p s m a r t l y w i t h K e n t a s Rangers created their next opening but the veteran striker’s shot was comfortably saved by Bain. Celtic’s first glimpse of goal saw them fail to test Wes Fo deringham, replacing the susp ended Allan Mcgregor between the posts for Rangers, as Burke blazed an effort wildly off target.

R angers were quickly b a c k o n t h e f r o n t f o o t b u t D e f o e’s m o r e t h a n theatrical attempt to win a penalty kick, as he tumbled despite no contact from Kristoffer Ajer, might easily have earned him a caution.

As the hosts continued to control the tempo and direct i o n o f t h e c o n t e s t , a c l e v - e r c o r n e r r o u t i n e i nvo l v i n g Kent, Steven Davis and Arfield almost caught Celtic out but the final pass lacked accuracy.

Bain made a brave save at the feet of Arfield to deny Rangers i n f i r s t- h a l f s t o p p a g e t i me with Connor Goldson heading narrowly over from the resultant corner.

Celtic, with Jeremy Toljan replacing the injured Lustig at the start of the second half, were left incensed and bemused six minutes after the r e s u mp t i o n wh e n Jo n F l a n a g a n escaped with only a booking when he caught Scott Brown with a raised elbow as the pair jostled for position at a corner kick. The full-back could count himself exceptionally for tunate not to join the lengthy list of dismissals Rangers have collected this season.

The momentum remained firmly with Rangers with Celtic unable to make any significant impression in a midfield battle bossed by Ryan Jack and Davis. The home side fully merited the second goal which finally came their way in the 63rd minute as a consequence of an outstanding move. Glen Kamara left Celtic captain Brown t wisting in the wind with a silky turn and when the Finnish international’s piercing through ball was dummied by Defoe, it found the run into the area of Arfield who slipped a composed finish beyond Bain.

Celtic introduced Scott Sinclair for the peripheral Johnston, while Rogic made way for Olivier Ntcham but there was no appreciable improve - ment for the visitors who already seemed to have accepted their fate.

D e f o e a l mo s t a d d e d a t h i r d f o r Rangers with 12 minutes remaining when he saw his initial shot parried by Bain before clipping the rebound on to the top of the crossbar.

The scoreline was kind to Celtic, given the paucity of their performance, but they should have halved the