2018-04-29: Celtic 5-0 TheRangers, SP

Trivia

• Celtic win the league title; SEVEN IN A ROW

• Celtic win the league title defeating Sevco at Celtic park in great style, despite first choice two strikers not starting (Dembele injured, Griffiths on bench)
• Celtic still in scope for back to back trebles this season.
• Brendan Rodgers insists the title win Celtic clinched by crushing Rangers 5-0 yesterday has eclipsed his team’s historic undefeated Premiership triumph of last season.
• Edouard is a star, and scores twice. Rogic and McGregor keep their scoring spree against Sevco going.
• Sevco refused media access to any of their players or management staff after the 5-0 loss.
• Largest margin win over any senior side from Ibrox Stadium for 61 years.
• Celtic have scored nine goals with no reply in two matches v Sevco.
• Bizarrely, it’s the Rangers POTY awards the same night.… Union Bears invaded the awards: “They were shouting at directors and gaining entry via fire exits. “They stormed the hotel via the front entrance and opened fire exits to allow more people in. They were shouting at club officials about the current situation and the scoreline today.”“They let off bangers at the front entrance of the hotel. The players and club officials were coming into the hotel when it was going on.”
• Graeme Murty, Sevco Manager, left/was sacked just two days later. In all honesty, he never pandered to their lowest denominators to seek backing (e.g. WATP nonsense), and came over as a good man. Murty may not be Guardiola class but he stepped in to help , twice, and has been given the kicking of his life as a thanks. Murty’s mental state was described as “fragile” on Sunday at full-time. He was in no position to speak to the media following the game, having also been publicly humiliated by Dave King’s letter to season-ticket holders two weeks ago that effectively ruled out the chance of him getting the job. Should have stayed away from Sevco.
• A former solicitor who advised Rangers (IL) on their use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) is facing bankruptcy, according to reports. Paul Baxendale-Walker, 54, who studied law at Oxford before working as a London-based barrister specialising in taxation, raised the prospect of the scheme with former Rangers owner Sir David Murray. His advice led to nearly £50 million being paid to Ibrox players, managers and directors between 2001 and 2010 in tax-free loans.
• Celtic have been linked again with Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun, but face competition from Everton and Leicester, according to reports. Rubin Kazan star Azmoun, 23, has been capped 31 times by his country and has scored 23 goals, and The Hoops were credited with an interest in the forward in June last year.
• Celtic are keeping tabs on Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, with the 16-year-old still to sign a new deal at the Emirates despite having already trained with the first team. The 6ft 5in England Under-17 international is also on RB Leipzig’s radar and although he is viewed as one of the Gunners’ most promising youngsters, no agreement has been reached on a new deal.
• Scott Brown won player of the year. Leigh Griffiths nominated ousted Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha as his Celtic player of the year at the Hoops’ award bash.
• Rangers have issued a statement in response to Hibs cutting their ticket allocation for the end-of-season Premiership meeting between the two clubs at Easter Road.
• Stiliyan Petrov believes Celtic are so far ahead of their domestic rivals that they could conceivably win the treble five years in a row.
• Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton has told Maccabi Haifa he is not interested in a return to his native Israel this summer. The 26-year-old is likely to miss the rest of a season with a knee injury
• Steven Gerrard was made odds-on favourite to become the next Sevco manager

Review

“We wanted seven, but we’ll take five”
Brendan Rodgers

(Miscellaneous6729 of KDS)
We won our 7th league and 5th trophy in a row since Brendan came in at Parkhead in front of the huns;
We sang Halliday’s name every time he took a throw-in/done anything in the game;
We sang Alfredo Morelos’ name when he was subbed on;
Forrest scored against the huns;
PC Lustig was born;
PC Lustig made a blatant pocketed gesture at Jamie Murphy
Scott Brown ruffled Candeais’ hair like he was a wee boy;
KT took the GB’s megaphone and led the celebrations
The huns banned their staff from speaking to the media;

our whole team to a man played phenomenally well, our fans rubbed it in their faces for 90 minutes and our manager loved it all as much a we did.

(lubo25 of KDS)
these are really special times

take time to savour these league titles, these absolute hammerings of the reborn huns

30 years ago, we won the league in our centenary season

20 years ago, we won the league to stop them doing 10

10 years ago, we won the league on a Thursday night for Tommy Burns

today – nothing but complete domination and an annihilation of the huns, their support and their camp followers

enjoy your celebrations, bhoys and ghirls, this is the time of our lives

WHAT MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA SAID

@mstewart_23: Who is actually making the decision at Rangers to not speak to any media? Can’t imagine it’s Murty or any board members. Perfectly illustrates how the club is desperately lacking real leadership
@BBCTomEnglish: Celtic ragdolled Rangers today. A vast humiliation. I feel sorry for Graeme Murty. He’s getting dog’s abuse. The fault lies well above his head.
@McGregorDerek: Rangers gutless off the park too. No manager or player prepared/allowed to come up to face the media.
@mrjakehumphrey: Well done Brendan. Well done Celtic. I imagine Steven Gerrard was watching that Rangers mess, and instead of being daunted, realising how much better he can make them…

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Brendan Rodgers: Celtic should have set new record win over Rangers

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/brendan-rodgers-celtic-should-have-set-new-record-win-over-rangers-1-4732082
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admits his side should have equalled their record Old Firm win after they clinched their seventh successive Ladbrokes Premiership title in stunning style with a 5-0 thrashing of Rangers at Parkhead.

Ronnie Esplin

Published: 15:53 Sunday 29 April 2018

READ MORE – Celtic 5 – 0 Rangers: Celtic crush rivals to secure title
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at full time. Picture: SNS
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at full time. Picture: SNS

The Hoops’ 7-1 League Cup final win over the Light Blues at Hampden Park in 1957 is the club’s biggest victory in the derby match and the gap between the two sides was every bit as big at Celtic Park.

Odsonne Edouard, the 20-year-old French striker on loan from Paris St Germain, scored a first-half double with James Forrest adding a third before the break with midfielders Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor notching further goals early in the second-half.

Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, making his Old Firm debut, made several good saves to keep the champions at bay and leave ragged Rangers relieved they had not encountered further damage.

Rodgers, whose side beat the Govan men 4-0 in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final two weeks ago, said: “We should have had seven but we will take five.

“We scored five but it was probably going on seven or eight.

“Their keeper made some great saves.

“It was great tribute to the work of the players and the scrutiny that they are under. The performance was outstanding, if you think of what the players put into the game.”

Rodgers insists the league title win was better than last year when they went unbeaten in 38 games.

Celtic have lost to Hearts, Kilmarnock and Hibernian this season but the former Swansea City and Liverpool boss added: “This title is definitely better that last year – even though we went unbeaten last year.

“OK, there was expectation of course but to then to have had that season and to come into this season with virtually very little to break, and to go and perform like we have done for quite a number of games under pressure, we have done really well.

“I am really proud of the players. I don’t think I could have asked for any more.

“There won’t be too many atmospheres around the world like today.

“It was great to make supporters happy, it was a special day for them.”

Neither Rangers boss Graeme Murty or any of his team went into the media room for comment after the match.

Celtic 5 – 0 Rangers: Celtic crush rivals to secure title

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Ronnie Esplin
Published: 13:52 Sunday 29 April 2018

Celtic clinched their seventh successive Ladbrokes Premiership title in stunning style with a 5-0 thrashing of ragged rivals Rangers at Parkhead.

READ MORE – ‘Piling on the agony’: Green Brigade welcome Rangers to Celtic Park
Odsonne Edouard celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal. Picture: Getty
Odsonne Edouard celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal. Picture: Getty

Odsonne Edouard, the 20-year-old French striker on loan from Paris St Germain, scored a first-half double with James Forrest adding a third before the break to send Hoops fans into a half-time frenzy.

Celtic’s current dominance over their city rivals was underlined after the break as midfielders Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor added further goals to spark off the familiar celebrations with three fixtures remaining.

Boss Brendan Rodgers is now unbeaten in 11 games against Rangers since he took over in 2016, nine wins and two draws, and his Celtic side are within a William Hill Scottish Cup final win against Motherwell away from an unprecedented successive treble.

Celtic’s biggest win over Rangers was 7-1 in October, 1957 and it could have easily been beaten.

If former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is to take over from Graeme Murty as the manager of Rangers – and he is the front runner – then he will have his work cut out to improve this Ibrox side who look bereft of belief when they encounter green and white hoops, not to say simply inferior.

As always there had been plenty of speculation ahead of the noon kick-off regarding team selections.

With Rangers’ number one keeper Wes Foderingham still carrying a shoulder injury, Jak Alnwick made his Old Firm debut with midfielder Andy Halliday asked to play at left-back due to Declan John’s broken hand.

With Moussa Dembele injured, Rodgers opted to go with Edouard as his main striker instead of Leigh Griffiths who started on the bench, along with Jack Hendry who was replaced by right-back Mikael Lustig.

The home side piled on relentless pressure from the start and an uncertain looking Alnwick made two early saves from Hoops midfielder Olivier Ntcham.

However, it was team-mate Edouard who converted a Kieran Tierney cut-back from five yards to begin an afternoon of abject misery for the Govan side.

Celtic had complete control of the game looking fitter, faster and more focused.

However, in the 27th minute Gers midfielder Jason Holt broke forward and drew a decent save from Hoops keeper Craig Gordon with his left-footed drive and Tierney completed the clearance.

Attacker Josh Windass failed to pick out Jason Cummings on another Gers break but in the 41st minute when midfielder Graham Dorrans lost possession in a Rangers attack, Forrest sent Edouard running clear into the opposition box and he drove low past Alnwick and into the far corner.

It soon got worse for the visitors.

Just before the break, with the Light Blues in complete disarray, Forrest rattled in number three on the angle from 10 yards.

Rogic swept in number four from the edge of the box with the second half just under way before McGregor slid in an Edouard pass for the fifth after 52 minutes and the record books were being looked at.

Windass had hit the post with an effort before he was replaced by Alfredo Morelos, his introduction mocked by ecstatic Hoops fans.

Alnwick made fine saves from Forrest and Rogic amid more mundane ones as the home side threatened continuously, somehow failing to add to the anguish of their battered and bruised city rivals.

Five things we learned from Celtic 5 Rangers 0

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/five-things-we-learned-from-celtic-5-rangers-0-1-4732056
Stephen Mcilkenny
Email
Published: 14:58
Updated: 15:30 Sunday 29 April 2018

Celtic eased to their 7th title in a row with a 5-0 dismantling of Rangers at Celtic Park.

Edouard could be the answer
Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard celebrates his second goal. Picture: SNS
Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard celebrates his second goal. Picture: SNS

It’s fair to say it was a sluggish start for Odsonne Edouard at Celtic, but his latest performances have shown that he could do a job for Celtic. There have been rumours linking the likes of Moussa Dembele away from Parkhead, and Edouard could be the ideal replacement for the Frenchman. At such a young age he has the potential to be a sublime striker for Celtic and his latest performances against Rangers show he can rise to the big games. While many would prefer Griffiths to start, Edouard has shone when asked by Brendan Rodgers and with a rumoured price agreed with parent club PSG could he be the first summer signing for Celtic.

There is a gap

There’s an obsession with the closing “the gap” on rivals and Rangers are no different. Once again they were handed a stark reminder that the chasm is as great as ever. Brendan Rodgers’ side dominated from the first whistle and could easily hit double figures. Rangers were miles apart from Celtic from the get-go and even though they tried to play in a different style to their 4-0 defeat in the Scottish Cup they were powerless to step up to Celtic. Regardless of how Rangers play, they seem incapable of stopping Scott Brown controlling the game, Rogic developing chances and even landing a club on their city rivals. They’re simply miles apart. Whoever takes over as Rangers boss, will probably add a couple of million to their budget request.

Rangers may have a goalie ready-made

It feels weird even suggesting this after a 5-0 defeat, but Rangers could have a ready-made number one in Jak Alnwick. The shot-stopper made a few world-class save for his side and kept Celtic from adding to their tally. He made a terrific save at 5-0 to prevent James Forrest and given game time he could certainly do a job for Rangers. With rumours circulating that Allan McGregor could be set to sign for Rangers, is it really a position that Rangers need to spend money on to improve?

The Rangers defence needs a revamp

9 goals in 2 games. That’s how many goals Rangers have conceded against Celtic this month. There can be no doubt that the Ranger defence needs an urgent rehaul. While the fine performance of Jak Alnwick was mentioned, the game marks the first time that Celtic have enjoyed a 5 goal winning margin over Rangers in a league match. The back four of Rangers was pulled apart time and time again by a free-flowing, rampant Celtic side. If Rangers are to seriously contend in the future, they need a significant cash boost and a real focus on the back.

Celtic can still improve

With success comes players being linked with other clubs or a move away. Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic have been such players recently for Celtic along with the constant transfer speculation around Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele. Stuart Armstrong didn’t make it back for the Rangers game with Rogic playing his usual 60-odd minutes. Dembele didn’t make the squad and Griffiths came off the bench. The simple fact of the matter is that the depth and size of the Celtic squad mean that they can very much improve, even if they lose one or two key players. If we’re honest about it, Celtic could have scored more than 5 had they continued to press and go forward with the same urgency, and that is a worrying thought for any rival to the 7-in-a-row Champions of Scotland.

BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland

4 hours ago From the section Scottish Premiership

Five-star Celtic celebrate seventh title in a row

Celtic secured their seventh consecutive Premiership title with a chastening defeat of Old Firm rivals Rangers.

The defending champions needed to win at Celtic Park to retain their crown, and they swept the visitors aside.

Odsonne Edouard, with two, and James Forrest established a comfortable half-time lead.

Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor rounded off the scoring after the break as Celtic confirmed their dominance.

Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick made three excellent second-half saves to prevent the scoreline becoming even more galling for the Ibrox side
Seven up in champagne Celtic dressing-room

The victory leaves Celtic on the brink of the historic achievement of winning back-to-back trebles, with Motherwell their opponents in the Scottish Cup final, having already beaten the Fir Park side in the League Cup final last November.

Celtic have not strutted their way through the entire league season as they did last time, the title largely being won in third gear. When they have been of a mind to reach for fourth and fifth gear, however, they have been formidable – and this was one of those days.

Even from the first moments, when they forced three corners in the opening three minutes, there was an irresistible sense of a shellacking in the offing.

This was a rout to end all routs. Only Alnwick kept it to five – the goalkeeper was the visitors’ best player. In truth, he was their only player.
Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard
Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard scored twice and created another as he led from the front against Rangers

A year ago to the day, Celtic went to Ibrox and won 5-1. Here, they had five in the bag before an hour had been played. Without too much of a stretch, they could have had six, seven, eight or nine goals.

A penny for Steven Gerrard’s thoughts as he contemplates taking over as Rangers manager. The former Liverpool captain and current Anfield coach was not at Celtic Park but wherever he was he would have been gulping hard.

The champions were ahead after 14 minutes when Kieran Tierney took on Daniel Candeias down the right, beat him with ease and then slid a cross into Edouard’s path. The striker scored from close range.
Celtic defender Mikael Lustig celebrates
Celtic made the most of the occasion, as the players celebrated putting Rangers to the sword

Edouard was in the team ahead of the injured Moussa Dembele and the substitute Leigh Griffiths – and he was terrific. He was not alone. Forrest, McGregor and Rogic all laid the foundations early on, and all reduced Rangers to ruins.

There was a snap to Celtic, a pace, a hunger and a physicality. The gap in ability was one thing, but the gap in aggression was every bit as stark. Time and again, Celtic brushed Rangers aside like men against small boys.

The visitors could not keep what little ball they had – and when they gave it away, as Graham Dorrans did for the second goal, they were ripped apart by a team that basked in the occasion. Forrest found Edouard, who had Russell Martin in retreat before drilling his shot across Alnwick.

A third arrived before the break. Dedryck Boyata was alive to the loose ball and in a sense that little moment – the Belgian’s speed of thought and desire to win the ball against a passive opponent – was the game in microcosm.
Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday
Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday was pressed into service as a left-back, and like his team-mates endured a difficult afternoon

Celtic did not just have infinitely better players, they had an infinitely better attitude. So when Boyata won the ball and Forrest received it on the right, the winger had one thing in mind. He went outside one Rangers man, went between two more and then cracked his shot past Alnwick.

Throughout all of this, Rangers had one moment – Jason Holt’s shot which was saved by Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Beyond that? Nothing. Not a peep. And if they hoped to steady the ship during half-time, that idea was sunk within minutes of the restart.

Celtic swarmed all over them. McGregor’s attempt was beaten away by Alnwick but once more the hosts fought harder to retrieve the ball and when it came to Rogic, the Australian stroked a left-footed shot past the Rangers goalkeeper for the fourth.

At this point, the celebrations and the mocking at Celtic Park had gone into overdrive. The Rangers end slowly but surely started to empty.
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor scores against Rangers
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor scored his 11th goal of the season in the rout of Rangers

The fifth came soon after. Edouard went up the left and James Tavernier did not do nearly enough to stop him. It was easy, oh so easy. Edouard delivered the ball into the box and McGregor put it away. Cue more rejoicing.

Rangers were beaten very early in this game but by the hour their spirit was lying in shreds on the floor. Olivier Ntcham had a shot that produced a fine save from Alnwick. Forrest had a chance and Alnwick stopped that one, too. He made another block within minutes. Martin had to hoof one off the line just after.

The final whistle was a blessing for Rangers. It marked the end of their suffering and the confirmation of a seventh straight title for Celtic, wrapped up in the most thunderous fashion.

Celtic & Brendan Rodgers reign supreme again as Premiership title is retained

By Chris McLaughlin

BBC Scotland

1 hour ago From the section Celtic

Celtic celebrate their seventh consecutive title
Celtic have now won seven consecutive titles and are on course for back-to-back trebles

This was a league title that was won before the curtain even came up on the campaign.

With all the respect that can possibly be mustered, no team was ever likely to challenge the treble-winning invincibles. They, quite incredibly, swept away all in their path last year, time and time again. Does it then follow that expectation and predictability should be seen to dilute achievement?

It may temper celebration somewhat but those who support, play, coach and run the Scottish champions will toast their success, and rightly so. The big question at the start of season 2017-2018 was never could they do it, it was could they possibly do it like last year?

Triumphant Celtic rout Rangers to seal title
Lennon, Rodgers, Clarke & Ross up for award
Rodgers dismisses Arsenal speculation

With a squad almost untouched from the campaign before, they swaggered their way into and out of their first match of the season. Hearts, who had just ended the Ian Cathro experiment, were humbled 4-1 at Celtic Park on a warm Saturday in early August.

Brendan Rodgers’ side’s next trip to Gorgie would be less straightforward, but that’s for later. At that stage, it was an invincible group of men, still basking in the treble glow, who were in no hurry to see their unbeaten run end.

In the following few weeks, Celtic negotiated their way through the qualifying rounds of the Champions league, a 4-3 away defeat by Astana blotting the otherwise impressive copy book.

Following their return from Kazakhstan, they dropped their first points of the season when St Johnstone held them to a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park. It was to be the first draw of nine before they clinched the title. Going into the festive period, and following a 0-1 home defeat by Anderlecht, they started to wobble.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers has five trophy wins as Celtic boss and could make it six in the Scottish Cup final against Motherwell

Hibs were 10 minutes away from ending the run. It looked likely, but a late Callum McGregor strike tore the roof off Celtic Park and took their tally to 67 games unbeaten. Fewer people were convinced it would last much longer, though.

Nobody could have guessed that when defeat was finally inflicted, it would be delivered as devastatingly as it was. Eight days before Christmas, on a freezing cold day in Gorgie, everything that could possibly go wrong for Celtic did.

Hearts were two up before the break and the champions looked completely out of sorts. Two more goals followed without reply in the second half and oh how those in maroon celebrated. Celtic’s stunning unbeaten run was over.

After the final whistle Rodgers gathered his players in a huddle on the pitch, thanked them and congratulated each of them for writing history in such a stunning fashion. Sixty-nine games unbeaten but in a strange way it may have felt like a weight had been lifted from a group of players who had been living and playing with the weight of incredible expectation.

The sensational run was over and Celtic looked more like mortal men but, domestically, when the big questions were asked, they usually found the answers.
Hearts celebrate during their 4-0 win over Celtic
After losing at Tynecastle, Celtic would lose just twice more before clinching the title

The team closest to calling themselves challengers over the past few years were swatted aside with ease. In fact, Aberdeen failed to score against the champions in all three games before the Premiership split and conceded eight. In February, following a draw at home to St Johnstone and a defeat by Zenit in the Europa League, Celtic travelled to Pittodrie knowing defeat could raise eyebrows.

They strolled to a 2-0 victory and comprehensively silenced any doubters. Once again, a challenge from the north never at any point looked realistic.

Despite some early season optimism from rivals Rangers, they never got close either. The Ibrox club were too busy getting things wrong from within to seriously concern their neighbours across the River Clyde. Celtic wins at Ibrox in September and March surprised no-one. The competitive nature of this once mighty tussle has long since gone and showed no sign of returning anytime soon.

Once again key players turned it on at key times, although it was a season when Rodgers flipped and flopped with his frontmen. Neither Leigh Griffiths nor Moussa Dembele could lay claim to being the manger’s number one choice. The rotation, sometimes forced through injury, led to a campaign in which goals were more evenly spread throughout the team.

New signing Olivier Ntcham shone in the middle of the park, although the excitement surrounding the arrival of Chelsea youngster Charly Musonda has so far looked misplaced.

The two stars who have shone brightest have been, without a doubt, James Forrest and captain Scott Brown. Forrest has looked completely transformed. He has gone from a young man lacking self-confidence and stalling under previous manager Ronny Deila to a mature winger bursting with self-belief.
Scott Brown and James Forrest
The consistency of Brown and Forrest has been a key part of Celtic’s campaign

His skipper has already urged his fellow professionals to name him player of the year. Brown himself is in contention for that particular honour and it’s little wonder. His progression under Rodgers has been breathtaking. To say he makes Celtic tick is an understatement.

Brown’s will to win coupled with a battling composure in the middle of the park has led to his manager saying he would stroll into a top-six side in England’s Premier League. Brown has only missed four matches for Celtic this season – three of those have ended in draws. Some fans fear what will happen to the club when Rodgers moves on – a Celtic without Brown should be equally concerning.

And so to the manager. The Northern Irishman knew, against the backdrop of a stunning 2016-2017, this campaign was always going to fall short. It would be wrong to suggest he’s been the victim of his own success. A victim requires a misdemeanour and Celtic under Rodgers have once again stood tall over the rest of Scottish football.

He set his squad even more targets this year than last and continues to talk about hard work being central to their success. He continues to impress tactically, though. Bringing on a second striker after going down to 10 men against Rangers at Ibrox in March and ultimately winning the game was evidence of that, if any was needed.

Continued links to jobs down south are met with a reminder to those asking the questions that he’s never been happier in his life. Even before the winning medals are placed around the necks of the Celtic players for the seventh consecutive season, their manager is plotting and planning for number eight.

A new season that will start exactly the same way as the last – with an expectation that the Celtic steamroller will thunder on.