Rangers 2-3 Celtic

A pulsating game that had more plot twists than a prize winning crime novel ended with Celtic emerging victorious from a footballing war at Ibrox.

I went into this game with massive reservations, lots of people talked about the defensive side of our game but quite honestly I worried about us going forward as well- we haven't exactly been free scoring and there have been games against dross where chances have remained at a premium.We have found ourselves caught out against teams that have defended compactly and as a result of this have been able to take advantage of our defensive lapses. Tempo has also been a major issue with our play that I worried would see us lacking that cutting edge on today's big occasion.

As it were I felt that our performance from middle to front was good overall.- I've seen better but a cut above some of the mediocrity that has been played at times this season. I feel like the reintroduction of Tam Rogic into the side has given us that extra dimension- a foot like a traction engine, ability to glide past opposition players and that directness that we have so badly lacked at times. I was unsure of McGregor on the left rather than Odsonne but he put in a mammoth shift down that side, giving Tavernier a torrid time with his relentlessly direct running.

Forrest was disappointing, he didn't really make much of an impact although he did show willing for the ball.

I have to ask questions of our defence though- Boyata should have been hooked after 20 minutes. I hate the way he seems to think he has so much time on the ball and fails to react to emerging threats- the first goal was preventable in this regard- just put the ball out under pressure. Instead he gets caught out and Windass races through to thunder the ball past Bain after 2 minutes. This trend would continue with suicidal first touches, poor positioning, getting caught underneath the ball and fluffing an important clearance added to his rap sheet.

Boyata wasn't good enough but Simunovic sold the jerseys- whether you think its a red or not he gave the (assistant) ref a decision to make by using his elbow. I don't want to see him near the side again- Hendry who came in for him offered more after the sending off put Celtics backs against the wall.

Celtics engine room worked hard all game Ntcham and Brown I thought were good- they really began to take control of proceedings from 30 minutes in to the sending off and after that they worked so hard to screen the defence and nullify a Rangers side short on ideas with an extra man.
Ntchams passing range was superb and I thought he was terribly unlucky to find himself getting blown up for fouls where he was simply out muscling and out thinking the Rangers midfield. Brown rose to the occasion and led by example in that crucial 30-35 minute period in the second half.

In that time Celtic looked organised, where defenders stuck to their main jobs- allowing Rangers to dominate the wide areas but heading, blocking and shielding the ball away from the penalty box area.

Rangers looked strong and competitive for the first 30 minutes but after that I felt that, even until the sending off, Celtic were starting to dominate and get on top of them. The siege before half time yielded a crucial equaliser and I truly believe 11 v 11 that we would have won that game in a more comfortable manner. It wasn't to work out that way yet young Odsonne was the difference that enabled Celtic to win this game. He came on for Forrest and he worked so hard chasing down the ball, shunting Bruno Alves off the ball in injury time to relieve the pressure and crucially he made those runs down the left channel that enabled a sumptuous winner.

The young frenchman drove at the Rangers defence cutting inside off the left to curl a shot of beauty to nestle in the top corner. The irony was that it was vintage Scott Sinclair of last season.

Rangers for their part huffed and puffed but ran short on ideas- they had chances in the second half but it would be a tale of 2 young strikers as Edouard emphatically conjured a winner whilst Morelos could only prod against the post from a few yards out after a snap shot from Windass fell to him in the 6 yard box.

A huge win for Celtic that should seal 7 in a row at a time when it was needed the most. Not the perfect performance but one of great steel and character that surprised me in the most pleasant of ways