Chris Sutton takes pop at fans over key Celtic star, what happened vs Rangers should ‘shut them right up’

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Chris Sutton, as always, has said plenty after Sunday’s disappointing Glasgow derby defeat.

Celtic were 2-0 down against Rangers but fought back valiantly to draw level at 2-2 thanks to goals from Japanese pair Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

But Rangers scored late to win 3-2 at Celtic Park and thus secured their first win there since October 2020, almost five years ago.

Sutton slammed Nicolas Kuhn for his display, while crediting defender Maik Nawrocki for putting in a solid display having come out of cold storage for the game.

The ex-Celtic hitman also mocked Rangers for milking their celebrations at the end of the match, with the Bhoys still 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Almost a week has passed now and the dust has settled. But Sutton admits the absence of captain Callum McGregor against Rangers has ‘stuck’ in his mind.

• READ MORE: Wonderkid Brendan Rodgers loves stakes Celtic first-team claim with debut international strike off the bench

Sutton takes aim at Callum McGregor doubters

McGregor missed out due to a calf injury – but there were some Celtic fans who weren’t overly fussed.

Sutton is in a totally different school of thought, however, and feels McGregor was a massive loss to Brendan Rodgers and Celtic.

And the Daily Record columnist has had a go at the Celtic supporters who have doubted McGregor this season.

He said: “There’s been plenty of fallout from Sunday but a few things has stuck with me. The importance of Callum McGregor for one.

“There’s been some supporters who have raised doubts about the captain. Sunday should shut them right up.

“McGregor was a major miss, not just in terms of his leadership but as a player. The flow wasn’t the same, the ball wasn’t being moved around with the same speed, there were too many square balls and back passes.

“Too many players took the safe option. McGregor is the one man who is prepared to take the ball in tight areas, commit opponents, either spin then and go past or pick out the right ball to get Celtic moving through the press.

“I know Rangers have tried to stifle him and sometimes they have achieved bit of success, like at Ibrox (in December) and the first-half at Hampden (in Premier Sports Cup final).

“But more often than not, he’s found a way to dominate this fixture. You can bet the Rangers players would have got an immediate boost when they got the team sheet and he wasn’t on it. That says everything.”

Callum McGregor’s derby record vs Rangers

McGregor is expected to return from injury after the current international break, which will be a welcome boost for Brendan Rodgers.

But you can only wonder if he was fit in time for the Rangers derby, would the final outcome have been any different for the Hoops?

McGregor’s record against Rangers is remarkable, even if it has been a bit patchy this season. Overall, he’s faced them 42 times across his career and only 12 have been defeats.

McGregor may have underperformed against Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup final and the defeat at Ibrox, but he’ll always have the last laugh when it comes to winning trophies.

And he’ll go on to captain Celtic to yet another Premiership title this season and potentially even a domestic Treble, which would be his SIXTH at the club.