Match Pictures | Matches: 2021 – 2022
Trivia
- KO: 19:45, Wednesday, Sky TV
- Celtic blow away Sevco, first victory over them in over two years (League Cup final 2019)!
- Celtic now top of the league by 1pt with 24 games gone, +10 goal difference better than Sevco too.
- Rearranged from 2nd January due to the change in the winter break following introduction of new covid restrictions.
- No Sevco fans at this game Celtic couldn’t guarantee the tickets for the January fixture because no one knew what covid would do five months in advance.We have since moved this game to make sure fans can actually get in, proving the point, which was a gamble in itself.One Rangers did not want to take.
- Probably the most pivotal match to decide the league title for this season.
- Bitton suspended due to red card; Rogic, Maede away on intl duty. Lot of injuries still at Celtic such as McGregor and Turnbull. BUT McGregor returned and played in this game with a mask on.
- Sevco pulled a big coup with Aaron Ramsay, who was on £400k per week at Juventus they have got him on loan expensively till end of season. Not played in this game as lacking match fitness.
- Celtic have EIGHT matches scheduled for February. This is a big test for the strength in depth of the entire squad.
- Second meeting this season, first with Gio Van Bronkhorst as Sevco’s manager. First Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park for Ange.
- Celtic ball boys taunt Sevco goalkeeper Allan McGregor after Reo Hatate opener. Gio van Bronckhorst complained about their conduct. That prompted ref Bobby Madden to speak to a member of the matchday staff to get the word out to the youngsters.
- Ben Doak played in this game; being tracked by Liverpool. The 16-year-old was brought on as a sub in the 1-0 win over Dundee United and earned the praise of Ange Postecoglou. He said: “It was Stephen McManus, actually, who brought him into the group. He’s a fantastic kid who comes from a good family. He looked really composed for his age.”
- GB terracing section 111 to be shut in next home game (v Raith Rovers) for safety review following mass pyro etc at the home game v Sevco.
- SkySports Presenter, Hun apologist & ex Rangers player Kris Boyd complained that theRangers players had failed to test Callum McGregor protective face mask which the injured Celtic skipper wore at Celtic Park in midweek to allow him to play in the match that Celtic won 3-0. It is clear to many he seemed to indicate that he complained that Sevco players should have targetted his injury which is irresponsible & dangerous. Celtic make a statement they are investigating. Callum McGregor states a few days later he has spoken to Boyd and all sorted.
- Raith Rovers: backlash after they sign David Goodwillie. Lost sponsors (like author and life long fan Val Mcdermid), long term fans and female team captain amongst others. Sensitive issues involved which are left for a more appropriate forum for discussion than this one.
- Gridiron: Tom Brady has officially announced his retirement from the NFL. Ranked as greatest ever NFL player.
- Transfer window closes:
- January 2022 Transfer Window 🇯🇵 Reo Hatate – £1.4M 🇯🇵 Yosuke Ideguchi – £850K 🇯🇵 Daizen Maeda £1.6M Matt O’Riley – £1.5M 🇮🇪 Johnny Kenny – £125K Five players for just over £5M
- Struggled to move players on. Failed with Ajeti and Soro although still time for Barkas as he may move to Sweden on loan their window still open.
- Montgomery sent to Aberdeen on loan.
- Osaze Urhoghide has joined KV Oostende on loan for the rest of the season.
- Leigh Griffiths has surprisingly turned down an offer from Dundee, where he has been playing his football since being loaned out by Celtic on the last day of the summer transfer window, and is said to be on the lookout for a new club. Effectively he is away from Celtic too. All at an end. We wish him the best.
- Tennis: Rafael Nadal wins Aussie Open and his 21st grand slam, a record breaking the tie with his great contemporaries Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray long out of it all.
- Winter Olympics starts 4 Feb; Winter Paralympics 4 March
Summary
Ange Postecoglou: “This is the reason you’re involved in football and I relished the opportunity to take over this football club because you want to be involved in the big games with the big crowds and consequences.”
Ange: “We had 60,000 in here. I’m sure a lot walked in with some problems in their lives and for this 95 minutes we made them forget that and feel good – and that’s something special.”
Ange Postecoglou: “The extra significance was that it’s a game that means a lot to our supporters, so you want to deliver for them as much as anything. “They couldn’t come to the stadium last year, so to have them back here tonight, all 60,000… it was a special night.”
FB of KDS:
That ladies and gentlemen was a proper skelping of the kind we haven’t administered for a while. First half was joyous football where we tore them apart at will, only a few reflex saves from their ageing goalie kept the score decent at 3 – 0. We were good all over the pitch, but in Josep Juranovic we have an absolute star. What a feckin player.
Abada was terrific, Hatate was outstanding, McGregor brave as they come, why even Greg Taylor had a good game. The two central defenders just get better and better, and our keeper is like a Celtic Da at the back, keeping his weans in check.
Jota was ominously half paced, I hope he’s ok. Anyway, three terrific goals, a calm, controlled second half performance that we craved and a great cameo from James McCarthy all meantfor a fantastic win that puts us top. They are absolutely awful, and so utterly predictable it’s insane.
Wait till we put our first team out against them,
Twitter:
Chris Sutton @chris_sutton73 · An absolute pumping but nothing won yet. Celtic have come so far under Ange Postecoglou but need to carry on being relentless. Hatate, O Riley and Juranovic absolutely outstanding and massive balls from Callum McGregor. Really liked Giakoumakis tonight as well
Anthony Joseph @AnthonyRJoseph · 1h I’ll hold my hands up – I thought this season was a write-off for Celtic with too much change on and off the field. But credit to Ange Postecoglou, he’s come in & is building something special. It is very much game on this season. Hope everyone enjoys their night. That was huge!
Michael Stewart @mstewart_23 · 1h Ange Postecoglou the most important acquisition for Celtic, real leader with great ideas & clearly an eye for a player. Hatate & O’Reilly were outstanding in the middle of park. Juranovic had Kent in his pocket too. Momentum now truly with Celtic, cup winners & top of the table.
Stan Collymore: Superb from Celtic, blew the opposition away in the first half and cruised to victory in the second. More steel, more of a team, more character, more characters, more tempo than the last couple of seasons, huge credit to Ang and his staff.
ETIMS: Just in from game. Wow! 1st half terrific. 3-0 going on 6-0. We were first to everything. Thought Juranovic & Giakoumakis bullied their opponents. Mid movement outstanding. All that & Jota below normal levels! 2nd half we sat in. Some tired legs after high energy. Bravo to the wee guy giving the Stewards the run around just before 2nd half.. did more running than half the boys in blue. Professional performance second half. Missed Giakoumakis when he was subbed. Hatate tiring. Maeda back this morning! Levels dropped. To be expected. Thought it was Greg Taylors best match. Calmac big leader. Massive from Ange and team. Big Bravo to all
AgentScotland: Matt O’Riley has took to Celtic like a duck to water, it’s been a seamless transition, a really cultured footballer who also works his socks off, still very early days for him but he’s got the potential to be the best of the bunch, touch, vision, brains, energy, he’s got the lot.
Hungarian Football Vlogger @HFV_2021 (Jan 2023) : Unforgettable! No other game could come close to the atmosphere I experienced this night! 🍀 The Celtic environment reshaped my perception of support & football spirit
Teams
Celtic:
Formation 4-3-3
- 15 Hart
- 88 Juranovic
- 20 Carter-Vickers
- 4 Starfelt
- 3 Taylor
- 33 O’Riley Substituted for Soro at 88′minutes
- 42 McGregor Booked at 22mins
- 41 Hatate Substituted for McCarthy at 72′minutes
- 11 Abada Substituted for Forrest at 62′minutes
- 7 Giakoumakis Substituted for Maedaa t 62′minutes
- 17 Neves Filipe Substituted for Doak at 87′minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 5Scales
- 12Soro
- 16McCarthy
- 29Bain
- 38Maeda
- 49Forrest
- 56Ralston
- 57Welsh
- 84Doak
Goals:
- Hatate (5′ minutes, 42′ minutes),
- Abada (44′ minutes)
Assists:
- Abada (42′ minutes),
- Hatate (44′ minutes)
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McGregor
- 2TavernierBooked at 74mins
- 6Goldson
- 3BasseyBooked at 52mins
- 31Barisic
- Substituted forBalogunat 45′minutesBooked at 76mins
- 37Arfield
- 18Kamara
- Substituted forJackat 45′minutes
- 17Ayodele-Aribo
- 9Diallo
- Substituted forSakalaat 45′minutes
- 25Roofe
- 14Kent
Substitutes
- 4Lundstram
- 8Jack
- 10Davis
- 11Itten
- 19Sands
- 26Balogun
- 30Sakala
- 33McLaughlin
- 51Lowry
Ref: Bobby Madden
Att: 60000 (no Sevco fans at this game)
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home10
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Articles
“Atmosphere was awe inspiring, spine chilling & frankly like nothing else in the whole world,” David Potter
By David Potter 3 February, 2022 No Comments
David Potter’s post-match thoughts on Celtic 3 theRangers 0…
https://thecelticstar.com/atmosphere-was-awe-inspiring-spine-chilling-frankly-like-nothing-else-in-the-whole-world-david-potter/#.YfuKeEty3n8.twitter
Last night was one of the best nights we have had for many years. For long periods in the first half, we hardly gave them a kick of the ball and 7-0 at half time would not have been an outrageous reflection on the run of play.
The second half was quieter, and although we lost some of the momentum we had in the first half, we kept things under control, and they were never really likely to get back in the game.
We did not have a single weakness. My Man of the Match would have been Juranovic, but there would have been many who would have run him close. And what a difference Callum McGregor makes, face mask or no face mask! The team played with cohesion and teamwork, and the football was a real treat.
The atmosphere was awe inspiring, spine chilling and frankly like nothing else in the whole world. Our opponents were clearly rattled and even intimidated. They are in the main simple minded souls, having been fed all sorts of rubbish in the Scottish media about how good they are. It was the first time they had come up against a non-servile crowd. They were clearly thunderstruck by it all, and some of them might not recover.
That was last night – and it was, by any standard, impressive, but today is another day, and it is “Feet on the floor day” for the players. 14 league games remain and we still must win them all. It would be very difficult to accept if we beat theRangers and then failed to Motherwell or Aberdeen. Concentration is paramount.
Calm them down, Ange, You are doing a great job so far. We are in with a chance of the three trophies, and of course we already have won one. The mutual love between fans and players that we saw last night are a sign that anything is possible.
Both players and fans were awesome.
David Potter
‘Real boost of energy’: Reo Hatate and crowd spurred Celtic to Old Firm win, says captain Callum McGregor
Celtic captain Callum McGregor hailed man-of-the-match Reo Hatate and the Celtic support after leading his side to the top of the cinch Premiership with a 3-0 demolition of Rangers.
By David Oliver
Wednesday, 2nd February 2022, 10:20 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/real-boost-of-energy-reo-hatate-and-crowd-spurred-celtic-to-old-firm-win-says-captain-callum-mcgregor-3552955
Two quick-fire goals from Hatate and Liel Abada rounded off a breathless, intense first half which ignited with the Japanese midfielder’s fifth minute opener.
McGregor played the 90 minutes in a protective mask after a facial injury last month but praised his midfield colleague and the packed stands for roaring the team to a resounding victory.
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“I thought the crowd was unbelievable and gave us a real boost of energy and the players responded to that. The football in the first half was first class.
Matt O’Riley celebrates after with goalscorer Liel Abada who makes it 3-0 Celtic. (Picture: John Devlin)
Matt O’Riley celebrates after with goalscorer Liel Abada who makes it 3-0 Celtic. (Picture: John Devlin)
“The manager demands we play fast, attacking football and he’s been on us to take our chances. We knew if we got our chances we’d have to be ruthless and put them away and that’s exactly what we did. It’s brilliant for the boys.
He added: “[Hatate] has been first-class with a similar impact to Kyogo. He’s come in, scored goals, looked hungry and technically very, very good within the system the gaffer plays. He really flourishes in there and it’s up to us to keep him going, keep him working, getting him fitter and match sharper.
“It’s a great return for him in his first Old Firm game,” he told Sky Sports.
While Celtic lapped up the jubilant scenes at full-time McGregor insisted the team would stay grounded despite moving top for the first time this season.
Reo Hatate scores the opening two goals for Celtic in the home side’s 3-0 win over Rangers. (Picture: John Devlin)
Reo Hatate scores the opening two goals for Celtic in the home side’s 3-0 win over Rangers. (Picture: John Devlin)
“We’ll stay calm. We have done a lot of hard work since the start of the season with a lot of new players and guys experiencing this for the first time.
“It’s brilliant for them to experience a home win and see exactly what the atmosphere is like but we know there is a lot of football to be played – one thing is for sure, we won’t get carried away.”
Boss Ange Postecoglou added: “I’m really proud. I thought our first 45 was just outstanding.“It was a big game. We knew the consequences, we knew what it meant to the supporters and the players stood up.
“We scored three great goals but our football was pretty special, and to be fair, their keeper has pulled off some great saves.”
How Celtic’s dazzling destruction of Rangers felt like a restoration of the pre-pandemic footballing order in Scotland
It was more than the leadership of the cinch Premiership that changed hands with Celtic’s breathtaking 3-0 takedown of Rangers in the eardrum-bleeding cacophony of Parkhead.
By Andrew Smith
Wednesday, 2nd February 2022, 10:22 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/how-celtics-dazzling-destruction-of-rangers-felt-like-a-restoration-of-the-pre-pandemic-footballing-order-in-scotland-3552956
It was, without exaggeration, the sense of everything in the battle for supremacy in the Scottish game. The vibrancy and vivaciousness of Ange Postecoglou’s men when set against the jaded, rudderlessness of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side felt like it captured the two clubs at more than just a point in time; more than just on a dazzling night for Celtic and a dismal one for Rangers. An outcome that extends the unbeaten domestic run of Postecoglou’s team to 22 games – the longest by any team in Scotland since Brendan Rodgers’ treble-winning Celtic invincibles in 2016-17. An incredible statistic, it was matched by the concession of three goals by Rangers inside the first 44 minutes, following on from the weekend 3-3 draw at Dingwall, make for the first time the Ibrox club have lost to Celtic in eight matches.
It felt like nothing short of the restoration of the footballing order in this country as it stood before the Ibrox men rampaged to the title with an unbeaten league campaign last season under Steven Gerrard. As Celtic came apart at the seams to finish 25 points adrift of their bitter rivals in pursuit of a record 10th straight title under Neil Lennon. And all under the pandemic shadow that necessitated the lifeless spectacle of games played behind closed doors, without the intensity and din that suffused Celtic’s first home derby with a crowd for two years, which in turn seemed to provide them a roar-fuelled propulsion to humble the champions. A din that visibly seemed to spook the visitors from the off as Celtic started like a runaway train.
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What followed in a stunningly one-sided encounter wasn’t merely a personal vindication of Postecoglou’s fizzing, front-foot focus that has completely rebuilt Celtic from rubble inside a mere seven months. It was testament to his spectacular transfer acumen. The fascination pre-match was on whether Callum McGregor would be able to take the pitch, masked up, following the facial injury he sustained little over a week ago. He did, in courageous fashion, and it meant that the Postecoglou recruits in Celtic’s starting line-up numbered, eh, just the nine.
Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates making it 1-0 over Rangers at Celtic Park. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Reo Hatate celebrates making it 1-0 over Rangers at Celtic Park. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
All were central to Celtic running over the top of Rangers in opening period in which could have produced a 6-0 scoreline, but for a set of body-contorting, top drawer stops from Allan McGregor, who seemed to have Giorgos Giakoumakis’ number but not, as so often in the past, Celtic as a whole.
As Rangers seemed to play at half pace and in a daze for so much of the opening 45, an energised home team had all the zingers on show. And in Reo Hatate a player who stamped his name over a first derby with a scoring double that merely reinforced the belief that Postecoglou has unearthed a real diamond.
His 22-yard angled drive that bounced and foxed McGregor to open the scoring wasn’t the cleanest hit, but it was sufficiently effective. A flying elbow from Joe Aribo that caught his team-mate Calvin Bassey and left him poleaxed in defending a corner from Matt O’Riley immediately before the Japanese midfielder let fly led to Rangers protests that referee Bobby Madden should have halted play. Following a conversation with his assistant David McGeachie, he allowed the goal to stand.
It was one-way traffic for the next half hour as Celtic’s ferociously paced passing and movement – in particular the inter-play between McGregor, Hatate, the clever O’Riley, the forcing Liel Abada – allowed them to slice and dice their opponents time and again. But it wasn’t until the closing minutes of the half that they put the warranted sheen on their supremacy. A second strike from outside the area by Hatate, this time a sumptuous chop of the ball that allowed him to bend it into the corner, induced bedlam inside the stadium. And 2-0 in 42 minutes became 3-0 in 44 with Hatate exquisitely arcing over a cross from the left that Abada met in the middle to cushion-volley beyond the helpless McGregor.
Liel Abada scores to make it 3-0 Celtic over Rangers at Celtic Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Liel Abada scores to make it 3-0 Celtic over Rangers at Celtic Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Aside from Joe Hart racing to smother ahead of Scott Arfield, Rangers constructed nothing of note, with the decision of van Bronckhorst to haul off the invisible Amad Diallo, Glen Kamara and Bassey and replace them with Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack and Fashion Sakala told its own story.
The intensity dropped in the second period, but Rangers, despite the odd moment, never looked like making a game of it as Postecoglou used his five subs judiciously, Daizen Maeda deployed for the last half hour having only returned from Japan overnight. In no small part that was down to the solidity of Celtic’s back four, wherein Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranovic and Carl Starfelt were immense. Compelling evidence that the Parkhead club are no longer the soft touches they so often proved for Rangers these past two years. It is not just going forward then that Postecoglou appears to have changed all, and changed it utterly.
Of course, a one-point gap is hardly insurmountable for van Bronckhorst and his team to bridge with 14 league games remaining, and in new arrival Aaron Ramsey they have a driving midfielder who can breathe life into a Rangers side in desperate need of being oxygenated. But there is such intoxicating elements about Postecoglou’s side, few would now bet against them experiencing the sweet smell of success in this title race.
Celtic’s Reo Hatate ‘not fit enough yet’ despite Rangers heroics as Ange Postecoglou reacts to topping table
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtics-reo-hatate-not-fit-enough-yet-despite-rangers-heroics-as-ange-postecoglou-reacts-to-topping-table-3552975
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has declared the spine-tingling crackle of Parkhead in which his team produced a performance to match the ambience in dishing out a 3-0 thumping of Rangers as adding up to an occasion “up there” with anything he has known across 40 years in the game – the past 25 as a coach.
By Andrew Smith
Wednesday, 2nd February 2022, 11:24 pm
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Yet, the Australian believes the victory, which moved Celtic to the summit of the cinch Premiership in establishing a point advantage over a Rangers side they ripped apart, is only a launchpad with players such as two-goal derby debutant Reo Hatate and his playmaking midfield sidekick Matt O’Riley not close to the fitness levels he is seeking from them. Yet inside 45 minutes, they were central to a three-goal burst that completely flattened Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men.
“I have been pretty lucky, I have had some special experiences in my football career and tonight was right up there,” said the Celtic manager. “From the moment we walked out, the wall of noise, the energy in the stadium was just outstanding. Form my perspective the anxiety grows because I wanted to repay that, I wanted the players to repay that and they fed ff the energy in the right way, they rose to the occasion and gave the fans the kind of performance that the supporters deserve.
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“I don’t want to single anyone out because I thought it was an unbelievable effort from the whole group. Reo is not fit enough yet, he has a lot of work to do and still has improvement to do but I knew what I was getting he is a quality player. Tonight he showed his temperament as well because on the big occasion when he needed to he had the quality. But he wasn’t the only one. I thought the whole group was outstanding. [It was] pretty much [everythng I was looking for]. Particularly with the context of the game and the opposition because they are a good side. They have been on top all year and only lost one game. It’s the same team that won the championship last year. So our performance in the first 45 was outstanding.”
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou reacts to the 3-0 win over Rangers. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou reacts to the 3-0 win over Rangers. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Posteocolgou won’t get hung up on Celtic sitting atop of the table, or consider any psychological implications of comprenehsively outclassing their title rivals.
“I don’t buy the psychological stuff. The important thing for us is that it doesn’t affect us. Our end goal is not to be in top spot, it’s to play football a certain way and to win things and we haven’t done that. I know what the players are like, they will do their recovery and then come back in on Friday and demand more of me and of anyone to get better. We want to improve and we will have to, to be the football team we want to be. We are still missing some key players.
“Being in top spot is a sign of our progression, absolutely, because we lost three of the first five or six so we know how the Scottish Premiership works. We had to be almost perfect to get to where we are now. We have been under pressure for a long time but it’s testament to the players’ character and the spirit they’ve got that they haven’t let that affect them. They haven’t looked at the table and the points and they won’t know.”
BBC
By Nick McPheatBBC Scotland
Last updated on
1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
Celtic v Rangers
Liel Abada’s 13th goal of the season ended a dream first half for Celtic
Celtic stormed to the Scottish Premiership summit at the expense of a shell-shocked Rangers after a monumental Old Firm victory ended their rivals’ recent derby dominance.
Ange Postecoglou’s side blitzed their rivals in a relentless first half as a brace from the peerless Reo Hatate was followed by a third from Liel Abada.
Celtic’s levels dropped after the break, but reigning champions Rangers – who made three interval changes – rarely tested Joe Hart in a pedestrian showing at a raucous Parkhead.
Postecoglou’s men are now 18 league fixtures without defeat after ending a seven-game winless run in Old Firm derbies and are at the summit of the division for the first time since August.
But after a 13-game unbeaten start, the defeat is Giovanni’s van Bronckhorst’s first as Rangers manager and could prove to be season-defining – not just because they slip behind Celtic but also due to the crushing nature of the loss.
‘Naive Rangers gave the game away’
Podcast: ‘Were Rangers so bad, or were Celtic brilliant?’
Reaction & as it happened
The Ibrox side’s blockbuster deadline-day signing of Aaron Ramsey added extra fizz to the build up of what was already being billed as arguably the biggest league encounter between the two in over a decade. And the atmosphere lived up to that.
Celtic Park, without any away fans in attendance, was throbbing and the hosts started at a furious pace roared on by a 60,000-strong home crowd. The opening goal only took five minutes to arrive.
Matt O’Riley’s corner was only cleared as far as Hatate, who took one touch to set himself on the edge of the box before his controlled strike took a nick and beat Allan McGregor down to his left.
Bedlam ensued in the stands as Rangers players protested. They believed the game should have been stopped for a head clash when Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey collided while clearing O’Riley’s delivery. But referee Bobby Madden consulted his assistant and ruled the goal would stand.
Rangers lacked any intensity or aggression without the ball as Celtic relentlessly pushed for a second.
Goalkeeper McGregor, who was at fault twice in Saturday’s 3-3 at Ross County, was back to his best to deny the hosts with a stunning double save.
First, he got up to his left to stop Jota’s strike before picking himself back up to get behind Giorgos Giakoumakis’ header. On another day, the Greek striker could have had a first-half hat-trick after two further close-range efforts were thwarted.
But the former Scotland keeper could not prevent the outstanding Hatate doubling the hosts’ advantage, when he sliced a delicious effort from the edge of the box inside the right-hand post. Celtic Park erupted again.
Rangers’ minds were scrambled by then. None more so than that of Borna Barisic, who was swamped down the Celtic right and could only gawp in horror as Abada darted in front of him to flash Hatate’s tempting delivery past McGregor to add a third before the break.
Van Bronckhorst threw on Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack and Fashion Sakala at the break, hoping for a reaction, but his side were reduced to hopeful efforts.
Scott Arfield flashed over from the edge of the area and Jack crashed a long-range effort off the crossbar, but they never looked like finding a foothold in the contest, even if Celtic failed to register a second-half shot on target.
But their attacking work was done in a statement first-half performance. Just over a fortnight ago, Postecoglou’s men were six points adrift, now they are in the boxseat.
Man of the match – Reo Hatate
Celtic v Rangers
Aside from his two goals, the 24-year-old’s energy in defence and attack was unrivalled in a stunning performance
What did we learn?
The significance of this victory cannot be underplayed for Celtic. The belief Postecoglou and his players will gain from a statement derby could well be priceless in their hunt for the title.
In particular, the additions of Hatate and O’Riley have a squad that was threadbare a matter of weeks ago looking strong. With Kyogo Furuhashi to return and Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi yet to get a run of games, they now have options.
On the flipside, the manner of this momentum-swinging defeat leaves Van Bronckhorst with questions to answer, especially in defence. The Ibrox side have now shipped six goals in successive league games for the first time since 1986. In their title-winning campaign last season, they conceded just 13 in total.
While Ramsey’s addition will undoubtedly provide a lift, the decision to not recruit a centre-back could come back to bite the champions in their quest to retain the title.
With third-placed Hearts to come on Sunday, Van Bronckhorst’s men cannot afford to lose more ground after losing their first league game since early August.
What they said
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “Our first 45 mins were outstanding; three great goals, our football was pretty special, and their keeper pulled off some great saves. Considering the context of the game, I thought our football was outstanding.
“Second-half, we had to defend a bit more but we’ve been a team that can do that. It shows another layer. We knew the consequences, what it meant to our supporters, and we stood up.”
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst: “It seemed like it was the first Old Firm game we’d played. We know what it will bring and we know what to do. It seemed like we weren’t ready for it.
“We’re not the first Rangers team to lose. I lost big here as a player, but we eventually became champions that year. These games don’t decide the championship.”
Match ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 0.
90’+6′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 0.
90’+4′
Post update
Attempt missed. Connor Goldson (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ryan Kent with a cross following a set piece situation.
90’+4′
Booking
Ben Doak (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
90’+3′
Post update
Fashion Sakala (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90’+3′
Post update
Foul by Ben Doak (Celtic).
90′
Post update
Foul by Fashion Sakala (Rangers).
90′
Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89′
Post update
Foul by Ryan Jack (Rangers).
89′
Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Josip Juranovic with a cross.
88′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Ismaila Soro replaces Matt O’Riley.
87′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Ben Doak replaces Jota.
86′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
85′
Post update
Foul by Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Rangers).
85′
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James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
85′
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
84′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Connor Goldson.
80′
Post update
Fashion Sakala (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
80′
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Foul by Carl Starfelt (Celtic).
78′
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Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
78′
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Foul by Josip Juranovic (Celtic).
77′
Post update
Scott Arfield (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77′
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Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
76′
Booking
Leon Balogun (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
76′
Post update
Foul by Leon Balogun (Rangers).
76′
Post update
James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
74′
Booking
James Tavernier (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
74′
Post update
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
74′
Post update
Jota (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
73′
Post update
Attempt missed. Scott Arfield (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
72′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. James McCarthy replaces Reo Hatate.
71′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott Arfield (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fashion Sakala.
69′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Calvin Bassey.
67′
Post update
Foul by Scott Arfield (Rangers).
67′
Post update
Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
67′
Post update
Offside, Rangers. Kemar Roofe tries a through ball, but Fashion Sakala is caught offside.
65′
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Leon Balogun (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65′
Post update
Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
64′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by James Tavernier.
63′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Calvin Bassey.
63′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
62′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Liel Abada.
62′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Daizen Maeda replaces Giorgos Giakoumakis.
58′
Post update
Fashion Sakala (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
58′
Post update
Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
57′
Post update
Offside, Celtic. Carl Starfelt tries a through ball, but Giorgos Giakoumakis is caught offside.
56′
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
56′
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Leon Balogun (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54′
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Attempt missed. Scott Arfield (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
52′
Booking
Calvin Bassey (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
52′
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Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
52′
Post update
Foul by Calvin Bassey (Rangers).
50′
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Attempt blocked. Liel Abada (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
49′
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Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
49′
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James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
46′
Post update
Offside, Celtic. Reo Hatate tries a through ball, but Jota is caught offside.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Ryan Jack replaces Glen Kamara.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Leon Balogun replaces Borna Barisic.
Second Half
Second Half begins Celtic 3, Rangers 0.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Fashion Sakala replaces Amad Diallo.
45’+2′
Half Time
First Half ends, Celtic 3, Rangers 0.
45’+1′
Post update
Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
45’+1′
Post update
Connor Goldson (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
44′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 3, Rangers 0. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Reo Hatate with a cross.
43′
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Foul by Reo Hatate (Celtic).
43′
Post update
Amad Diallo (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 2, Rangers 0. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Liel Abada.
36′
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
35′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by James Tavernier.
33′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Calvin Bassey.
32′
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jota.
29′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Borna Barisic.
26′
Post update
Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross.
25′
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Josip Juranovic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
25′
Post update
Foul by Ryan Kent (Rangers).
25′
Post update
Jota (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
25′
Post update
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
23′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Tavernier.
22′
Booking
Callum McGregor (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
22′
Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
22′
Post update
Scott Arfield (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
20′
Post update
Reo Hatate (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
20′
Post update
Foul by Scott Arfield (Rangers).
18′
Post update
Offside, Celtic. Matt O’Riley tries a through ball, but Liel Abada is caught offside.
18′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Allan McGregor.
18′
Post update
Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Liel Abada.
16′
Post update
Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
16′
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Kemar Roofe (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
15′
Post update
Attempt saved. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
15′
Post update
Attempt saved. Jota (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
13′
Post update
Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
13′
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Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
10′
Post update
Foul by Jota (Celtic).
10′
Post update
James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 1, Rangers 0. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.
5′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Borna Barisic.
4′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Greg Taylor (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Liel Abada.
3′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Borna Barisic.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Celtic 3-0 Rangers: Ange Postecoglou says side ‘made fans forget their problems’
By Nick McPheatBBC Scotland
.From the section Celtic
Watch the best of Celtic’s statement derby win over Rangers
“We had 60,000 in here. I’m sure a lot walked in with some problems in their lives and for 95 minutes we made them forget that and feel good – and that’s something special.”
Manager Ange Postecoglou might have been forgiven for revelling in the execution of his gameplan in the immediate aftermath of eye-opening Celtic’s derby win over Rangers.
He could have basked in a first win in eight against Rangers. Or in his side going top of the Scottish Premiership having been six points adrift of his city rivals just over two weeks ago.
But instead, his thoughts were with the Celtic fans who have backed him during the turbulent opening months of his tenure. A tenure that has now delivered a League Cup success, European progression, and a place at the summit of the top flight.
The supporters were a dejected bunch when the then relatively unknown Australian was appointed in June.
The long-coveted 10-in-a-row had slipped away in an abject campaign as Rangers won the title by 25 points and Eddie Howe ultimately rejected Celtic’s advances, leaving the club scrambling for much of the summer.
Three defeats in the opening six league games compounded the misery but Postecoglou has brought together a squad and imprinted a style that the fans have taken to their hearts.
“We’re upholding the values of this club not just in winning but in how we play our football,” he told BBC Scotland after the statement 3-0 win over their city rivals.”
Asked if this was the kind of performance he dreamed about, Postecoglou replied: “You don’t know what I dream about…”
“It’s the kind of football team we want to be. It doesn’t mean you disrespect or dismiss the opposition. We are still developing, but we want to take it to the opposition, and if we do that, we can take it to any opposition.”
“We’ve still got key players missing, very influential players. Some are just in the door. Our target is to win things, and if we’re going to win things, we have to keep improving.”
The victory was Celtic’s first in eight derbies
The victory was Celtic’s first in eight derbies in all competitions
Postecoglou’s ‘exceptional’ rebuild
Between both the summer and January windows, Postecoglou has drafted in a total of 17 new signings.
Few have failed to reach his expected standards, with Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Jota in particular proving to be a formidable front trio throughout the first half of the campaign.
Recent midfield acquisitions Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley, who have played just seven games between them, have enjoyed a similar impact in a short space of time and both were outstanding in the derby win.
Hatate has contributed to four goals in as many games since arriving from the J-League – scoring three and assisting one – while O’Riley, who was playing in the English third-tier with MK Dons just over a fortnight ago, has been an elegant presence.
While the Japanese midfielder’s brace and assist capped a man-of-the-match display against Rangers, O’Riley boasted the highest number of final-third passes (16) and won the ball back for his side seven times.
“I’m hesitant to point out any individual tonight but he is a fantastic player and he’s not fit enough yet,” Postecoglou said of Hatate.
“That’s four games he’s played, he had a month of no football. He’ll get better, stronger, but he’s made of the right stuff in terms of mentality. Technically he is fantastic.”
“O’Riley picks up very good positions,” former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner added. “He is not quite up to full tempo but once he gets there, he will be a wonderful player.
“You’ve got to give all the credit to Postecoglou for the players he has brought in here. Probably 80% of the team out there has been signed by him. That’s what he was hired to do, and he’s done it exceptionally.”
BBC
Reo Hatate the hero as Celtic reach summit by humbling tired Rangers
By Tom EnglishBBC Scotland
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60241700
16 minutes ago16 minutes ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
Watch the best of Celtic’s statement derby win over Rangers
When Reo Hatate’s race was run, the Japanese midfielder slowly made his way pitch-side at Celtic Park then turned and gently bowed to the stadium, a gesture of gratitude for the thunderous ovation he was receiving.
So giddy were the home fans by that point that it wouldn’t have been a surprise had all 60,000 of them bowed right on back. Frankly, had they simultaneously genuflected and offered up thanks for Hatate and the man who brought him into their world, Ange Postecoglou, it would hardly have been a shock.
Hatate scored two goals and assisted with a third for Liel Abada against Rangers before taking his leave. His class going forward was enough for the home support, but when it’s coupled with a desire to work back and assist his defenders then you’re into a different realm of player adoration.
Old Firm games are supposed to be anxious affairs for newcomers but Hatate made light of that notion. When they turned off the disco lights, he illuminated the place and he wasn’t alone.
This was a rout with many moving parts. Josip Juranovic, Matt O’Riley and Abada did such a tag-teaming number on poor Borna Barisic that the Croatian was taken off at half-time. When Postecoglou said it would be unfair to single out any one player in this pummelling of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, he was correct, but he did it anyway. He had some special words for Hatate.
It was the comment about his player still having a way to go to find full fitness that made you think. If this is him not at full throttle, what’s he going to be like at maximum pelt? What are Celtic going to produce when Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi eventually get to play in the same team? Celtic still haven’t had their best team on the pitch.
Watch: How Celtic midfield dominated derby
You could say this game was won in five minutes when Hatate scored his first or in 42 minutes when he got his second or on the stroke of half-time when he crossed for Abada to get the third. Or you could say that the game was won before any of that happened, before the players even came into view.
What was stark from the first minute was Celtic’s edge. There was no early caution, no wary sparring. Postecoglou’s team, metaphorically, came out throwing punches and Rangers looked shocked amid the volley. Instead of keeping it tight, Celtic went for the early knockdown – and they got it. They were in Rangers’ faces from then on – and Rangers looked stunned. They became desperately ragged. After 45 minutes the game was half-over, but really it was long over. It could have been four, five or six. All that was missing was the towel coming in.
Celtic are now top of the league. In the aftermath of this victory they celebrated like a club that was exorcising some ghosts. The past year and more has been brutal (first world Scottish football problems, it’s true). A dismal season last time round, a ton of rancour as Rangers stormed to the title, high profile exits from the dressing room, the manager’s room and the boardroom, protests outside the stadium, a failed bid to land Eddie Howe as manager, a chief executive, Dominic McKay, appointed in a fanfare before leaving abruptly with so many unanswered questions and then airbrushed from history.
Into this morass came Postecoglou. The early weeks were not good. He called out the slackness of player recruitment, more than once. Remember him saying publicly that he mustn’t be getting his message across clearly because not enough was happening to get the players he needed in the door? Pointed. Those were dicey times.
Celtic lost league games to Hearts, Rangers and Livingston. When they exited the Champions League the back four that finished the fateful game against Midtjylland was Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, Dane Murray and Adam Montgomery. Two teenagers, a 21-year-old and the elder statesman, Ralston, who was 22.
The journey from that point to this point has been impressive. Nobody can know whether Celtic will win the title but what was roaringly obvious on Wednesday was that they’re back. Their fans had plenty of evidence, but maybe it needed a victory against their oldest enemy to convince them that the dial has shifted again in Glasgow.
Watch: Should Celtic opener have stood?
Certainly those post-match celebrations had a power about them that suggested that it was the full stop being applied to what happened last season and early this season, the chaos that Postecoglou has turned on its head. In one way it doesn’t seem that long since banners outside Celtic Park called for heads. In another way it seems like an age ago.
Odsonne Edouard and Kristofer Ajer were sold in the summer for a combined £28m, give or take. Postecoglou has practically rebuilt an entire team for less than the cash brought in for those two players. Kyogo Furuhashi, Hatate, Josip Juranovic, Abada, O’Riley, Carl Starfelt, Yosuke Ideguchi and Giorgos Giakoumakis all cost money, but the total was in the ballpark of £23m.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Daizen Maeda are all loan transfers. The first two have been big successes. Maeda is only just in the door. After the slapstick days of spending £8m on Albian Ajeti and Patryk Klimala combined plus another £5m on Vasilis Barkas and the chunky loan fees for the likes of Shane Duffy, Diego Laxalt and Jonjoe Kenny and assorted other failures, this must feel like nirvana for Celtic fans.
And it’s Postecoglou’s doing. Celtic had a crisis in goal and he fixed it with the signing of Joe Hart. They had major full-back issues, but Juranovic – for only £2.7m – and the rejuvenation of Ralston addressed that one. They lacked wide attacking options so he got Jota and Abada who have 21 goals between them. They needed a replacement for Edouard and he got Kyogo, who’s on 16 goals in 26 games including both in a 2-1 League Cup final win. Ryan Christie left and he got Hatate, now the decisive character in his first Old Firm derby. David Turnbull got injured and he signed O’Riley, who’s started wonderfully.
At this point, you’d have to say that Postecoglou has been the biggest success of the lot. Turning this thing around, from where it was last season, has been a terrific feat of management. It’s a different world that’s been created. On Wednesday night, nine of the club’s starting XI were Postecoglou’s signings.
Watch: ‘Rangers exposed really badly’
His counterpart was an angry man, but this was not a failure that dropped out of the sky. Rangers were defensively awful in Dingwall on Saturday, they toiled to a 1-0 win over Livingston at Ibrox and had a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. They’ve been far from impressive for a while now.
They’ve conceded six goals in their past two league games. In all of last season’s league campaign they conceded just 13. Of course they have the wonderful Aaron Ramsey until the end of the season but they look tired. There wasn’t just a huge gap in quality on Wednesday. In terms of effervescence, the difference was glaring. Kyogo was a human spark plug for Celtic when he arrived. Van Bronckhorst could do with Ramsey jump-starting his new team in the same way.
The Welshman’s quality is unquestioned, but he’d better be coming to Glasgow in the mood for a battle – because he’s in one.