Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm
CELTIC 1-1 RANGERS | EDOUARD (27), KENT (62)
Celtic XI: Bain, Lustig, Boyata, Ajer, Tierney, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Forrest, Hayes, Edouard.
Rangers XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, McCrorie, Worrall, Arfield, Jack, Halliday, Candeias, Morelos, Kent.
- Allan McGregor makes excellent save to deny Olivier Ntcham
- Edouard opens the scoring with fine solo run
- Fans run onto the field to celebrate Celtic opener
- Alfredo Morelos shown straight red card for elbow to Brown’s face
- Ryan Kent levels with terrific driving run
- Boyata and Tierney off injured – Celtic down to 10
CELTIC 1-1 RANGERS
83: It’s now Celtic with their backs to the wall as Rangers apply late pressure. Glen Kamara comes on for his first Old Firm appearance – he’s on for Ryan Jack.
Another Old Firm debutant is Jermain Defoe. He’s on for Candeias, who run his socks off today.
80: Final ten minutes, 10 vs 10 in the Old Firm derby. Standby for some serious drama – you just know something will happen.
Scott Brown collects his obligatory yellow card. Death, taxes and Brown getting booked against Rangers.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: REUTERS)
78: What have we got here then? Dedryck Boyata is injured. He’s hobbled off the field and parked himself on the bench – but Celtic have no substitutes left. It’s now 10 vs 10.
75: OH HE’S MISSED IT!! Wow, what a chance for Rangers to take a shock lead. Ryan Kent collects the ball to the left of the goal and cuts it back for Jack, who can’t adjust his feet and spoons it miles over.
Steven Gerrard buries his head in his hands. He’d have eaten that up no questions asked.
73: Celtic eventually make the switch with Jeremy Toljan replacing the injured Kieran Tierney.
70: It was always a gamble. Kieran Tierney, who was a doubt for today’s clash, can’t continue. He hobbles off the field leaving Celtic temporarily down to 10.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
68: Tom Rogic replaces Olivier Ntcham for Celtic.
I should mention that Boxing champion Carl Frampton has tweeted asking Rangers to buy Ryan Kent. He’s a boxing champion – so I would fork out the £7million pronto!
65: I really didn’t see that coming. The Old Firm – the gift that keeps giving.
CELTIC 1-1 RANGERS | KENT
63: Wait… what?! 10-man Rangers are level!
Incredible scenes as Liverpool loanee Ryan Kent produces a scintillating moment of brilliance to claw Steven Gerrard’s side back on level terms with 25-minutes left on the clock.
Kent collects the ball from Candeias and runs at the Celtic defence. He skips past Boyata before firing past Bain.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
60: Half-hour left on the clock as Boyata rises above Goldson to head a corner well over the crossbar. Rangers still with a glimmer of hope with a one-goal deficit.
57: Wooooosh! Lustig decides to try his luck and nearly sticks a sweet strike in the far corner. Inches wide with McGregor beaten.
54: Close! Scott Sinclair with his Raheem Sterling vs Italy moment. You know the heartbreaking one I’m talking about.
The substitute plays a quick one-two before darting into the penalty area and seeing McGregor deflect his effort wide. The camera angle made it look like the ball had nestles into the net – but, of course, it was simply an illusion.
51: Chris Sutton actually has a point. Rangers DO look better with 10 and have already created better chances than in the opening 45 minutes.
Rangers win their first corner of the day but Ryan Kent’s delivery is headed away. Scott Arfield follows that with a neat reverse pass sees James Tavernier and Scott Sinclair come together in the area.
The visitors want a penalty but it looked like a tangle of legs to me. Referee Bobby Madden says no.
48: “Morelos is a liability and has let Gerrard down time and again… Rangers have been better with 10… Superb goal from Edouard,” says Chris Sutton.
Liability is quite kind. Five reds and 17 yellows in 48 appearances this season! Criminal.
CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS
45: Scott Sinclair on for Jonny Hayes. He’s scored four goals in Old Firm derbies before today – he’ll fancy a fifth today.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: REUTERS)
CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS
HT: And breathe. You wanted a feisty Old Firm? You got one. Odsonne Edouard picked up his obligatory goal and Alfredo Morelos collected his obligatory red card.
Celtic completely bossing things. The only surprise is the scoreline. Could have been anything.
44: Rangers have completely lost the plot here. McCrorie overruns the ball but decides to bash through Boyata regardless. No booking strangely…
43: Booked! Scott Arfield clips McGregor’s ankles and picks up a yellow card. Understandable given he’s being swamped in midfield.
40: Kieran Tierney hammers one from distance and Allan McGregor gets fingertips to it on the stretch. I suspect he’ll need to produce a few more of those today.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: SKYSPORTS)
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: SKYSPORTS)
38: Rangers simply can’t lay a glove on Celtic now. We’ve just seen a replay of Alfredo Morelos leaving the field in anger. You can see Scott Brown sipping water with the BIGGEST smile you’ve ever seen. Troll level 100!
35: Well any small glimmer of hope that Rangers had of catching Celtic is well and truly over.
33: Steven Gerrard has a quick word with the fourth official on the sidelines – but there doesn’t appear to be any dispute. Just that familiar look of resignation. He’s had enough practice with Morelos.
CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS | RED CARD
32: I can’t believe he’s done it again!
Alfredo Morelos is sent off for the fifth time this season for an off-the-ball incident with Celtic skipper Scott Brown.
The TV replays show that Brown gives him a small nudge and Morelos responds with a vicious swinging elbow to the face. Blatant dismissal.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: REUTERS)
31: Some excited Celtic fans rushed the pitch in the aftermath of that opener. The police move in and order is swiftly restored.
CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS | EDOUARD
27: GOAL! Odsonne Edouard breaks the deadlock – he loves this fixture!
The striker picks the ball up on the halfway line before driving straight through the middle. He faints to his left before crashing a thunderous effort past McGregor.
25: Booked! Jonny Hayes wins the yellow card sweepstake when arriving comically late on Halliday.
24: Rangers are creaking. Steven Gerrard’s side can’t string any passes together and have spent the last 10 minutes camped inside their own half.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
23: Odsonne Edouard has a go from the edge of the box but doesn’t connect. Celtic with 61 per cent possession thus far – four shots too.
Edouard looks to drive into the penalty area but there’s Goldson with a crucial tackle.
20: Bosh! Scott Arfield vs Scott Brown. The PPV fight just waiting to happen. The pair clash in the middle of the park and have a wee bit of afters. Nothing too serious but I suspect that’ll boil over at some stage.
17: Things have just started to settle down a bit after a frantic, bloody start. That’s probably better news for Rangers because they didn’t look comfortable.
Celtic still dominating the ball though.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
14: Ryan Kent bursts through the middle but offloads the ball far too early. Worse than that – he passed it straight to Scott Brown.
Liverpool reportedly want £7million for Kent. Might be a stiff task for Rangers to sign him on a permanent basis.
11: Neil Lennon will like the aggression he’s seeing from his side. Celtic were perhaps guilty of being bullied at Ibrox last time out – no sign of that happening today.
8: Edouard draws the foul from Goldson in a good position but Hayes, playing in his first Old Firm Derby, produces a rather poor delivery that fails to beat the first man.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: REUTERS)
5: There will be blood… we’ve already got a mini Royal Rumble here folks with Ajer down bleeding from his right temple. A quick sponge and a change of shirt and he’s back on the field.
3: I was about to praise Rangers for their confident start – but just seconds later Celtic should have the lead.
Kieran Tierney clips a low cross in from the left touchline and Olivier Ntcham connects with a cushioned volley that Allan McGregor somehow parries clear from point-blank range.
CELTIC 0-0 RANGERS
1: And we’re underway folks! You’ll notice that I didn’t update anything for 10 minutes – and that’s because the internet decided to take a 20-minute break.
I’ll bring the typewriter with me in future.
Twitter round-up
Lin: Whose stupid idea was it to hold a Rangers v Celtic game on Mother’s Day anyway!?
Brian: Ntcham is a surprise for me. His partnership with Brown in front of the back 4 tends to make Celtic slower & more predictable than when McGregor partners the captain. Hayes did well in the last game, but feel Sinclair or even Burke had stronger claims than him.
Peter: After the intensity of the week’s Brexit developments it’s nice to look forward to something a bit more relaxing and soothing.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Gary McAllister
11:45: Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister won’t be in the dugout today after being attacked in Leeds last weekend.
The former Leeds midfielder needed hospital treatment after the assault at 4am on Sunday morning.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said: “It’s a shame, he is not going to be with us at the weekend. I took the decision out of Gary’s hands. It’s a shame what happened.
“He is recovering well, but I think it’s better that he rests and recovers and gets himself 100 per cent right, and we get Gary McAllister back when he can be the real Gary McAllister. But it’s a shame, I wish he was going to be with us.”
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Two on the bounce?
11:40: Well it hasn’t happened since the Walter Smith days in 2009.
After going 12 derbies without a win, the visitors are looking for a second successive triumph.
No win at Celtic Park since October 2010…
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Team News
11:35: Kieran Tierney won his fitness battle to start for Celtic as the Premiership leaders bid to extend their 10-point lead over visitors Rangers.
The Scotland left-back overcame a calf injury to line up behind a midfield featuring Jonny Hayes and Olivier Ntcham, the latter making his first appearance of 2019 following a knee injury. Centre-back Dedyrck Boyata also returned to the team.
Tom Rogic is also in line to make his first appearance of the year after being named on the bench. Jeremy Toljan and Scott Sinclair dropped to the bench and Mikey Johnston missed out.
Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack both recovered from calf problems to return to the Rangers midfield. Lassana Coulibaly and Glen Kamara dropped to the bench and Joe Worrall replaced Niko Katic in central defence.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Twitter round-up
James: Hope Celtic win the Old Firm. Hope Spurs beat the Kopites, wouldn’t mind Roma beating Napoli and if Inter got hammered would be a good day.
Alan: How many times did Calum McGregor just say “y’know” during his interview? I lost count after the first 500.
Anne: Old Firm day on Mothers Day… spare a thought for the poor woman, men and kids whose day will be made hell depending on the result of a game!
I think it was 643, Alan.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Don’t mention the lion’s den
11:25: Mr Gerrard didn’t seem too happy with a certain term in his press conference this week. See if you can spot where exactly he’s taking it too literal…
“What do you mean by lion’s den? There’s not going to be any lions there, is there? It’s a football pitch, the same size as the one we play on at Ibrox. It’s 11 men versus 11 men.
“I have never known a fan to win a football match. A set of fans can make noise and make the atmosphere very interesting for everyone that we can all enjoy. But it’s not a lion’s den.
“A lion’s den is if you jump over a cage and you’ve got four lions chasing you and you are fearing for your life.”
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Time to shine
11:20: Rangers manager Steven Gerrard expects his players to thrive in the Celtic Park atmosphere just as he relished going to Goodison Park and Old Trafford as a player.
“It’s an opportunity for the players to show our own supporters that they are out there playing for them,” Gerrard said.
“Of course the atmosphere is going to be good and it’s all going to be with Celtic, and every cheer, every throw-in, every tackle is going to be on their side.
“But Celtic had to put up with it when they came to our place. It’s life, that’s not going to change, we expect that. But you have got to thrive in that. It’s got to excite you.
“If any in my squad are fearing that or don’t fancy it, they are at the wrong club. We need players that are going to really put their shoulders back and front that, and fancy it. I’d be so excited by it if I was a player.
“I preferred playing the derbies and the games against Everton and Manchester United away. I thrived off the environment, the pressure, the intimidation, the verbals, just because it was always a better feeling winning a derby away from home.”
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Today’s action
11:15: Plenty of football to look forward to this afternoon, folks.
Obviously we’ll be following the Old Firm here, but immediately after we’ll have LIVE coverage of Cardiff vs Chelsea.
And after that – there’s the small matter of Liverpool vs Tottenham at Anfield. So I guess my recommendation is to ignore Mother’s Day, ignore the lovely spring sun and do the triple-header.
You’re welcome.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
Twitter round-up
Lee: Hope young Morelos has took his Calms, nee chinning people till the 93rd minute and wa 3-0 up.
Dom: I have a feeling that today’s Old Firm match is going to be dull. It’s effectively an 11.00 kick off with the clocks going forward and Rangers have almost nothing to play for other than pride. My only hope is that Celtic are out for revenge and looking to ‘do it for Lennon’.
Steven: Think today is a bit of a free hit for Rangers which makes them dangerous & not sure on that Celtic 11 either but “he we go, for 10 in a row”.
Welcome…
11:05: Unorthodox to announce the starting XI’s before saying hello – but that’s just how I roll.
Anyway, welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Old Firm as Steven Gerrard’s Rangers look to prevent Celtic from bagging an unprecedented triple domestic treble.
But with a 10-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Premiership with only eight games remaining – it would take something pretty special.
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
The line-ups
11:00: And the sides have arrived. The headline news is the return of Kieran Tierney and Dedryck Boyata for the Hoops.
Celtic XI: Bain, Lustig, Boyata, Ajer, Tierney, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Forrest, Hayes, Edouard.
Subs: Toljan, Simunovic, Sinclair, Rogic, De Vries, Burke, Weah.
Rangers XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, McCrorie, Worrall, Arfield, Jack, Halliday, Candeias, Morelos, Kent.
Subs: Kamara, Defoe, Davis, Foderingham, Flanagan, Katic, Coulibaly.
Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland)
Celtic vs Rangers: Score, goals and updates from the Old Firm (Image: GETTY)
CELTIC vs RANGERS
Celtic defender Kieran Tierney is a doubt with a calf injury.
Interim boss Neil Lennon confirmed that the left-back, who missed Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifying double-header against Kazakhstan and San Marino had a reaction at training and will be assessed. Midfielders Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham are back in training after knee injuries and defenders Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig are fit.
Rangers left-back Borna Barisic is out after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Croatia. But manager Steven Gerrard is optimistic Ryan Jack and Scott Arfield will both be back after returning to training following calf problems while Gareth McAuley is available after a hamstring issue.
Last season: Celtic 5 Rangers 0, Rangers 2 Celtic 3, Celtic 0 Rangers 0, Rangers 0 Celtic 2
Last five league matches: Celtic W W W D W; Rangers D W W D D
Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Sinclair (Celtic) 17; Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) 29
Referee: Bobby Madden