Four games, 17 goals scored, 12 points collected and a three-point lead opened up.
For Celtic, it was business as usual in the Scottish Premiership. For Steven Gerrard and Rangers, the same.
Rangers went into the first Old Firm game of the 2019/20 season with high hopes. Celtic were coming to Ibrox, where they had twice stumbled last season, and Rangers were 100% for the season after three wins in a row.
What followed, over 96 minutes, was Celtic reasserting their dominance in Scottish football. The season has many twists and turns to come but this was an early shot across the bows.
Odsone Edouard gave Neil Lennon’s side the lead, on 32 minutes, and Ireland international Jonny Hayes settled the tie in injury time with a sweet run and strike to make it 2-0.
Following the game, Gerrard insisted to Sky Sports that Celtic had not out-played his side, rather they pressed effectively and had a better game-plan. He continued:
“Our performance collectively and individually wasn’t good enough to win a derby. I’m part of that so I’ll take as much responsibility that comes my way.
“To win these games we have to win more one-v-ones than the opposition but I think there’s only one player who can hold his head up high and that’s Jon Flanagan.”
Rangers finished the game with 10-men when Jordan Jones was shown a straight red card for an ugly swipe at Celtic defender Moritz Bauer.
Referee Bobby Madden gave Jones his marching orders, deep in injury time and Gerrard said the decision was “bang on”. He added:
“It was a red card. I think he’s tried to appease the fans but that’s not how you appease Rangers fans – you create goals and score goals. That’s how you get fans on your side, not kicking people when the ball is 10 yards away.
“He deserves his ban and he’s got everything to do to get back into my team.”
Back to the drawing board for Gerrard and his Rangers side.
