The fallout continues after Celtic and Rangers played out the final Glasgow derby of the season last weekend.
The Hoops already had the Scottish Premiership title wrapped up but Brendan Rodgers and fans alike were keen not to lose again to Rangers.
Celtic secured a 1-1 draw in Govan after a drab game that produced very little talking points as far as the action on the pitch was concerned.
Rangers started well in the first-half before Celtic made a better fist of it in the second-half, although there was very little goalmouth action to report.
Except one crucial moment. And it could have given Celtic all three points.
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Daizen Maeda’s ball roll stuns vs Rangers stuns Dalziel
Daizen Maeda was bearing down on goal in the final seconds of the encounter and Celtic fans expected one outcome given his form this season.
But the Japanese speedster took a heavy final touch and it allowed Rangers goalie Liam Kelly the chance to pounce and block Maeda’s effort at close range.
It was a pivotal moment and Maeda’s attempt to roll it past Kelly has left Open Goal pundit and former Rangers striker Gordon Dalziel rather puzzled.
Gordon Dalziel: “I thought it was one of those ones where you’re sitting going ‘1-1, fair draw, everybody will be happy’ – but then right at the death, Maeda, he should score shouldn’t he?
“I don’t know what he’s trying to roll it for, he’s not got that in his locker. That’s not the type of player he is.”
James McFadden: “He takes a heavy touch. I think if he gets a wee bit closer to him (Kelly) then he might be able to get his head up. But he’s thinking ‘get on the end of this touch’, then maybe go around the goalie and then square (it to Kenny).”
Brendan Rodgers defended Maeda’s miss for Celtic
Maeda wasn’t at his best against Rangers and James Tavernier, for once in his life, actually had a good game against the opponent who usually terrorises him.
But it was revealed by Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers that Maeda was in Japan during the week to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby.
In the end, the baby was not born and Maeda then had to travel back to Scotland before the Glasgow derby, which clearly took some energy out of him.
Rodgers explained: “We have to give him a bit of leeway, he has been in Japan all week.
“He flew out expecting his wife to have their third child, she didn’t have it so he had to come back and then come into a game here at Ibrox. You analyse it, he is through on goal. Can he go around the keeper?
“In fairness to Liam (Kelly) he has done well, he has had a good spread on it.”
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