May 11, (THEWILL)- Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scored his side’s only goal, but it was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat against Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic at Celtic Park. The loss leaves Rangers six points adrift with just two games remaining.
Celtic seized control through first-half strikes from Matt O’Riley and a John Lundstram own goal. Dessers briefly gave Rangers hope by pulling one back before the break, but the visitors’ task was made even tougher when Lundstram was sent off for a poor challenge on Alistair Johnston.
Being a man down after the interval, Rangers were unable to seriously trouble the Celtic rearguard. The Hoops squandered several chances to kill the game with O’Riley seeing a penalty saved and Daizen Maeda having two goals ruled out for offside.
However, Celtic saw out the remaining minutes professionally to record a vital derby victory which moved them to within touching distance of the league title. Brendan Rodgers’s men will be crowned champions if they take four points from their last two matches.
The win continued Celtic’s imperious derby form this season, with the Glasgow giants now unbeaten in all four Old Firm encounters in the Premiership – a feat they last achieved in 2017/2018. For Rangers, Lundstram’s dismissal means they have had five players sent off this campaign, more than any other top-flight side.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
