Celtic Dominate St Johnstone to Close Out a Historic Year in Style
Celtic capped what Brendan Rodgers hailed as one of the club’s most “exceptional years” with a dazzling 4-0 demolition of St Johnstone at Parkhead. The reigning champions showcased their relentless dominance, extending their unbeaten domestic run this season and widening the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 14 points ahead of Thursday’s pivotal trip to Ibrox. Rodgers Reflects on a Year to Remember Speaking after the match, Rodgers was full of praise for his side’s performance and achievements: “When you look at all the numbers and stats, this will be one of the exceptional years in the history of Celtic. It’s great for the supporters—they can see how hard the team is working.” Despite approaching the halfway stage of the campaign, Rodgers emphasised the team’s hunger to improve: “The players deserve huge credit for their mindset and work ethic. They know they’re in a safe place because we encourage them to take risks. That’s what allows us to keep playing the way we do.” A Ruthless Celtic in Full Flow From the outset, it was clear Celtic meant business. St Johnstone initially stood firm, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo, and Arne Engels testing goalkeeper Josh Rae. But the breakthrough came through the ever-reliable Nicolas Kühn, who latched onto Reo Hatate’s pass, cut inside, and calmly finished to notch his 12th league goal of the season. Kühn nearly added another with a curling effort that drew a stunning save from Rae, but the floodgates opened in the second half. Kyogo pounced from close range after Paulo Bernardo’s clever flick was parried, marking Celtic’s 50th league goal in just 18 games—a stunning milestone. The Japanese talisman struck again moments later, expertly finishing from Engels’ whipped cross, before substitute Daizen Maeda rounded off the rout with a composed strike following Bernardo’s defence-splitting pass. Rodgers’ Arsenal of Talent Even with key players like captain Callum McGregor and Maeda starting on the bench, Celtic’s depth and quality shone through. Rodgers’ squad boasts an attacking arsenal that seems unstoppable, with Kühn and Kyogo in scintillating form and Engels providing another dimension in creativity. “From minute one to the final whistle, we were outstanding,” Rodgers said. “The mentality of this group is incredible—they never stop. It’s a joy to watch.” St Johnstone: A Mountain to Climb For Simo Valakari’s side, it was another grim afternoon as they succumbed to a fifth consecutive league match without victory. Despite a disciplined first-half display, fatigue set in, and Celtic ruthlessly exploited the cracks. Valakari acknowledged the gulf in class: “Celtic were very, very good. From the first to the last minute, they pushed us. The biggest lesson for us is their attitude—they keep going no matter the situation. If we can learn that, it will help us.” With Hibernian next on the schedule, St Johnstone will need to regroup quickly to avoid becoming further detached at the bottom of the table. Eyes on Ibrox As the year ends, all eyes now turn to the Old Firm clash on 2 January. On this form, Celtic look unstoppable, and a victory over Rangers would further solidify their dominance in what Rodgers described as a “special, special season.” For the champions, the momentum shows no signs of slowing, while for the chasing pack, the task of catching them grows ever more daunting.
Igamane’s Heroics Salvage a Point for Rangers in Dramatic Fir Park Clash
Rangers narrowly avoided a second consecutive league defeat as substitute Hamza Igamane’s second-half double secured a 2-2 draw against a spirited Motherwell side at Fir Park. The result, however, sees Rangers slip 14 points behind league leaders Celtic ahead of their crucial Old Firm clash on Thursday. Manager Phillipe Clement, under pressure after recent performances, turned to Igamane to rescue his side from a two-goal deficit. The Moroccan delivered, smashing home his first after the ball dropped fortuitously in the box before curling a precise strike into the far corner to level the score. Motherwell’s First-Half Brilliance Motherwell, though, will feel aggrieved not to have claimed all three points. The hosts dominated the first half, capitalising on Rangers’ defensive disarray. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos opened the scoring with a sharp finish beneath Jack Butland, before Tawanda Maswanhise produced a moment of magic. The midfielder danced past multiple defenders before firing home a stunning solo goal, giving Motherwell hope of ending a 21-year wait for a home league victory over Rangers. Stuart Kettlewell’s men continued to threaten and twice had the ball in the net through Tony Watt, but both efforts were ruled out after VAR checks – decisions that left Kettlewell incensed and ultimately saw him sent off for his protests. Rangers Rally but Fall Short Despite Igamane’s heroics, Rangers struggled to find the cutting edge needed to snatch a late winner. The visitors pushed relentlessly, yet their profligacy, particularly from forwards Cyriel Dessers and Danilo, cost them dearly. Clement lamented his team’s defensive frailties after the match: “If you need to score three or four goals every time to win, it has to be much better. The fans are frustrated, and I understand that because I am too. In the first half, we conceded two goals we can never allow. It made things much harder for us.” Bright Spots Amid Disappointment For Motherwell, Maswanhise’s dazzling performance stood out, with his skill and creativity causing problems for a shaky Rangers backline. The home side’s tenacity and discipline in the dying stages underscored their strong campaign so far under Kettlewell. Kettlewell, though disappointed with the draw, expressed pride in his team: “I’m immensely proud of the players and what they gave us again. The disappointment comes in our start to the second half, but this was always going to be tough. There’s a bit of disappointment that it’s only a point, but no disappointment in the personality, the character, and what they showed.” Looking Ahead The result leaves Motherwell in high spirits despite the missed opportunity, while Rangers will need a marked improvement to challenge Celtic in their next outing. For both sides, the battle for points continues, but the drama at Fir Park will linger long in the memory.