Celtic and Rangers played out a frustrating 1-1 draw at Celtic Park this afternoon in a game the Hoops should’ve won.
Indeed, Mohamed Elyounoussi’s goal was responded to by an Alfredo Morelos header as we shared the spoils. Celtic had a host of opportunities to win the game, but couldn’t make them count.
Here, we look at three things we learned from this afternoon’s contest:
1. Dreadful decision-making
Celtic could’ve run away with this one had our finishing in the final third been better. This, in the end, came down to some dreadful decision-making.
When the Hoops were 1-0 ahead, Rangers were all over the place. Edouard was found at the back post and should’ve struck the ball first time. Instead, he took several touches before diving in the box. Then Callum McGregor got in behind the Ibrox back-line and had a huge chance to cutback for Edouard. He decided to go it alone and the chance was missed.
This is carbon-copy stuff from our last game – the 0-0 draw at Tannadice that officially ended our title hopes. Celtic can play pretty football, that much we know. The truth is that we haven’t been ruthless enough in recent weeks and it’s been costing us.
This was just yet another derby in which Celtic should’ve won comfortably. Yet, similarly to the loss at Ibrox back in January, we’re left wondering how we failed to do so.
In the end, our choices in the final third have let us down badly and not for the first time.
2. Elyounoussi finds his spark; clicked perfectly with Edouard
If we’re going to take the poor finishing out of the equation, the combination play between Edouard and Elyounoussi was certainly impressive.
Connor Goldson and Filip Helander have been ran riot this afternoon thanks to the unlikely strike pairing. Their understanding and movement played off perfectly with each other, with Moi in particular the standout.
It was he who opened the scoring with an intelligent run in behind the Rangers defence. He latched on to a beautiful Edouard cross to make it 1-0. He then nearly returned the favour for Eddy when he released him in the box only for Allan McGregor to save.
The two continued to get joy from the Rangers backline in the second 45. Their intelligent link-up play was too much for our rivals to deal with. Again, however, it was simply let down by final third decision-making.
3. Cross-ball errors won’t go away; Celtic’s main achilles heel
Just when you think we’re picking up some form, along comes the cross-ball frailties again.
When Celtic were 1-0 up it could’ve been anything. As we’ve mentioned, some less greedy play going forward could’ve had us cruising. But when things aren’t clicking in front of goal for whatever reason, you have to expect your back-line to deal with what comes their way.
This is another area we’ve been let down constantly in. We were 1-0 up and bossing it, then lose a ridiculous goal from a corner.
First off, Celtic were too easily beaten at the front post as it was flicked on to the back. Then, we appeared to have absolutely nobody guarding the back-post area. Nobody to watch the danger in case the worst happened and Rangers did indeed win the flick-on.
From there, Morelos had the easy responsibility of knocking home from close-range. It mirrored similar blows against the likes of Ross County, St Johnstone, and St Mirren just to name a few.
Rangers’ only opportunities in the game came from crosses across our defence. Outside of that they were barely in the game, but no matter how strong a head of steam we get up, we’re continuously let down at the back.
In other news, Celtic and Rangers produced class pre-match messages in support of Glen Kamara.
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