That didn’t take long, did it?
Celtic’s 3-0 defeat to Rangers on Thursday was their first major setback of the season under Brendan Rodgers. It gave Rangers fans a rare moment of celebration, breaking a long spell of Celtic dominance that included a League Cup triumph at Hampden just last month.
However, the joy at Ibrox was short-lived. On Sunday, Rangers let a 2-0 lead slip, ending in a 3-3 draw with Hibernian during the lunchtime kickoff. Philippe Clement’s side was quickly brought back down to earth, much to the delight of Celtic supporters.
The dropped points provided an extra boost of energy at Parkhead, where Celtic comfortably dispatched St Mirren 3-0 later that day, stretching their lead at the top of the Premiership to 13 points.
Chris Sutton Mocks Rangers After Celtic Extend Their Lead
Chris Sutton, who was at Easter Road to witness Rangers’ collapse, didn’t miss the chance to take a jab at the Glasgow rivals. After the match, he poked fun at Rangers on social media, highlighting their inability to build on the win against Celtic.
He wrote: “What a game 3-3. Hibs superb character to come back and get a point with Rocky getting the equaliser. Martin Boyle unplayable for Hibs. Hamza Igmane superb hat trick for Rangers and looks a player. It’s ok beating Celtic but Rangers needed to back it up. Off for a lie down.”
Sutton’s comments reflect a broader sentiment that Celtic’s dominance this season is now a matter of how many points they will win the title by. He even joked that Rangers’ recent victory over Celtic might have been a “blessing in disguise” as it keeps Clement in charge at Ibrox.
Brendan Rodgers Reacts to Celtic’s Commanding Position:
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers was in a buoyant mood after his side’s comprehensive win over St Mirren.
The Celtic boss made several bold decisions for the game, including dropping Liam Scales and Reo Hatate, starting Luke McCowan in midfield, and bringing Auston Trusty back into the squad.
The changes paid off, and Rodgers shared his satisfaction with BBC Radio Scotland: “I think that’s what it is. It’s just stage posts along the way and being at the halfway point from a pre-season, which has been great.”
He added: “From the European campaign, which has been fantastic, to winning the first cup of the season to then arrive at the halfway point in a really good place and then to add that lead. Of course that makes us very happy.”
With Celtic now sitting 13 points clear at the top of the table, the focus turns to how they will maintain their dominance and continue their march toward another league title. For now, it’s clear that Rodgers’ side remains firmly in control.
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