Rangers and Celtics chaos and late drama proves why neither are title favourites
It was the desperate goalmouth scramble that could perhaps sum up a season. As Reo Hatate shot low to his left, and after Jack Butland made the penalty save, the Old Firm was hanging in the balance as an afternoon of fire and chaos flipped on its head. But, at the third attempt, Hatate forced a crucial equaliser over the line to salvage a point for Celtic and deny Rangers all three, while leaving one clear winner. With nine games to go, it is advantage Hearts once again. A furious second-half comeback from two goals down kept Celtics challenge alive, but only just, on a day at Ibrox that neither club could afford to lose. It was a desperately tough blow for Rangers but, by the end, Danny Rohls side could have no complaints. Celtic had highlighted their shortcomings just as Rangers had fully illustrated Celtics after Youssef Chermitis astonishing double had the hosts in full control by the break. Youssef Chermiti scored one of the great Old Firm goals with his early overhead kick (Reuters)So it is Hearts who are now six points ahead of Rangers, with Celtic a further two behind but with a game in hand. This was a good result, too, for Motherwell, whose form is currently much better than both Old Firm clubs. They are two points behind Celtic, also with a game in hand, but with plenty of points to play for against those above them as the Premiership title race approaches the season-defining split. For now, this was a further example of why Hearts are poised to become the first club outside of the Old Firm to lift the title since 1985 when Sir Alex Ferguson, who was watching on at Ibrox, having been at Hearts on Saturday, won it with Aberdeen. Rangers were sensational in the first half, offering a performance that suggested they were up for the fight. By full time, they looked lost, devoid of any confidence and letting the control of the game slip from their grasp. It was outstanding but it is about 95 minutes, not 45 or 50 minutes, said Rohl, unable to hide his disappointment.After half time, Celtic did to Rangers what Rangers had done to them from the start. Martin ONeill replaced the ghost of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the equally ineffective Junior Adamu with Hatate and Sebastian Tounekti, pushing Daizen Maeda up front. From having their first shot on target in the 50th minute, ONeills side were transformed, aggressive, playing on the front foot, bursting forward after winning the second balls. They swarmed around Rangers and forced desperate clearances. The tide had turned by the time Kieran Tierney arrived to head in at Benjamin Nygrens header in the 56th minute, and it was one-way traffic from there. Martin ONeill said his side could have easily gone on to win the game (Reuters)We were so dominant, ONeill said. You wonder where [the first half] came from, or why we couldnt have strung a couple of passes together. We couldnt have started any worse. Celtics Luke McCowan had irritated Rangers in midweek by stating that no one in that league touches us when on top form, but Celtic could not get near their rivals to begin with. That Rangers found a magnificent intensity from the kick-off will come as no consolation for Rohl now. Nor for Chermiti, who produced two more big-game goals with a ridiculous overhead kick and a stylish finish in the box to put Rangers in charge and towards an 11th consecutive victory at Ibrox. They suffocated Celtic from the off, with Mikey Moore and Nico Raskin providing the drive and energy in midfield to overwhelm and outnumber Celtic. Everyone saw how Rangers played, said Rohl. I think this is our benchmark for the future, not just 50 minutes.Chermiti, however, also encapsulated their fragility. His overhead kick from Andreas Skov Olsens cross was sublime, as fine an Old Firm goal as has been scored, and called to mind Scott McTominays against Denmark. The strikers second was instinctive and cleverly taken as the sound of Chermiti scores again rang around a bouncing Ibrox; it was his third and fourth goals against Celtic this season, to add to his hat-trick against Hearts two weeks ago. But the 21-year-olds head dropped after losing the ball carelessly with his back to goal. Rohl remonstrated with his striker for his flick, as he sensed the momentum turning. Chermiti scored two brilliant goals but Rangers then lost their confidence (Getty)ONeill sensed it, too. The players showed some character to come back, and I thought we dominated the whole second half, so much so that the crowd were perhaps turning on their own players.The Rangers supporters had seen this script before. Rangers would be above Hearts by now had they not dropped points in away games at Livingston and Hibernian in recent weeks, and thrown away another two-goal lead here. Their inconsistency has again cost them. Just as Celtics inability to take the initiative from the start has plagued their difficult campaign. It feels as if they are always chasing. Despite their position at half-time, ONeill saw enough of Celtics second-half display and chances, with Butland denying another Maeda header and an opportunity for McCowan after a flowing move, to believe they could yet haul Hearts in. When Maedas header hit Dujon Sterlings hand from close range, and Hatate stood over the spot before equalising at the third attempt, there were still a few minutes left and Celtic found belief. Were not out of it, ONeill insisted. If the game had ended at half time, and [given] our performance in the first half, youd have thought were a million miles off it. Now by the end of the game, in the manner in which we played, particularly here at Ibrox, theres still plenty of heart and desire to try and win the title. It was Hearts, though, who were left celebrating the late drama.
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