Celtic 0-1 Rangers: Gers Make it Two Old Firm Wins in a Week with Victory at Celtic Park
Rangers cut the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to just two points as we headed into the international break with a win at the home of their biggest rivals. Celtic came into this one off the back of two defeats against Rangers and Ferencvaros but had won six out of six in the league so far this season. Rangers have won their last five in all competitions only conceding one goal including the 3-0 win against today’s opponents last week at Ibrox. Celtic made three changes to the team that started against Ferencvaros in the Europa League on Thursday night as Auston Trusty, Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren have replaced Haissem Hassan, James Forrest and Oliver Sorensen. Rangers named an unchanged side to the team that started last Sunday as they looked for a similar result in this game. The first chance came to Rangers as Nico Raskin played through Djeidi Gassama but he couldn’t sort his feet out and Colby Donovan managed to get back and make a challenge before he could take a shot. Celtic put the ball in the net after just six minutes from a free kick that was knocked on by Liam Scales to Camilo Duran but Scales was offside from the free kick delivery so the goal did not count. Celtic had a trio of corners very quickly that were all put in the six yard box on top of the keeper but they were not able to trouble Ivor Pandur who caught the third delivery. Dan Neil was in a similar position as he was to his goals last week as he received the ball but he hit it poorly and it was an easy stop for Viljami Sinisalo. Sinisalo was called into action again as Neil put a cross in for Ryan Naderi to head towards goal but again it was easy for the Celtic keeper. Celtic worked the ball well from right to left and Kieran Tierney hit the ball hard and had Pandur beaten but the ball smashes off the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Rangers got a corner and it was cleared by Cameron Carter-Vickers out to Kim Min-su, it was a good save by Sinisalo but straight to Naderi who tapped in to put Rangers in front. Rangers were so close to a second when Gassama went through on goal and dinked it over Sinisalo but hit the post and came out to Kevin Kelsy but his shot was blocked by Carter-Vickers and away as Celtic were hanging on by a thread. As the half time whistle went Rangers were ahead and created the better chances but Celtic looked to have more control of the ball than last week and could be a threat at times. Straight at the start of the second half Celtic went up the park and Colby Donovan had a header that was saved by Pandur and they couldn’t make anything of the ball as it bounced around the box as they looked for a quick response. A good strike from Penrice was palmed out by Sinisalo and Naderi couldn’t latch on for another tap in. Naderi got another chance from a header that he never connected with properly and it went wide. Rangers got forward again as Kim Min-su managed to skip past a challenge from Callum McGregor but his long range shot went wide of the right hand post. Rangers countered well again with a long ball to Naderi but his pass across to Kelsy was just over hit and the attack fizzled out. Again it was Rangers who attacked well as Gassama and Kim link up and Naderi and Carter-Vickers fight for it on the line but it goes for a Rangers corner. As we reached the last twenty minutes of the game there wasn’t a lot of quality and it was going from end to end with no quality in the final third. Olwethu Makhanya sticks the ball in the back of the net with a stunning strike but it clearly hits his hand before he hits it and the goal is ruled out. Rangers work the ball out to the left and it ends in a shot by Findlay Curtis but it’s a fairly routine save for Sinisalo. It was Nico Raskin next to have a shot as he chips one over the keeper head but it goes right across the goal and out for a goal kick. As we headed into four additional minutes Rangers were trying to see things out and push Celtic high up the pitch as Celtic were throwing caution to the wind to get an equaliser. Celtic were throwing the ball into the box whenever possible but they weren’t able to make anything from it as the final whistle went and Rangers won their sixth game in a row and won at Celtic Park for the first time since 2024. We head into an international break now and when they return Celtic face a trip to Fir Park to play Motherwell on Sunday 11th October. As for Rangers they will return from the international break to face Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday 10th October. Celtic Viljami Sinisalo, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty (Haissem Hassan 70) , Liam Scales (Shumaira Mheuka 90), Colby Donovan, Kieran Tierney, Mika Baur, Callum McGregor, Luke McCowan (Kasper Hogh 46), Benjamin Nygren (James Forrest 63), Camilo Duran (Sebastian Tounekti 70). Rangers Ivor Pandur, Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez, Olwethu Makhanya, James Penrice (Ben Godfrey 76), Dan Neil (Tochi Chuckwuani 89), Nico Raskin, Kim Min-su (Finday Curtis 72) , Djeidi Gassama (Badredine Bouanani 72), Ryan Naderi, Kevin Kelsy (Cameron Devlin 89).
Robinson praises his side following a “good week” after a successful week amid pressure on Robinson
Stephen Robinson called it a “good week” after claiming a spot at Hampden as well as a huge win at Fir Park and a point in Leith. There’s been a lot of pressure on the Aberdeen boss this season so far after a poor start to their campaign but that past week has shown something positive signs. The Dons claimed a place at Hampden after overcoming Kilmarnock at Rugby Park following a penalty shootout victory which was followed by a sensational 4-0 win away to Motherwell before drawing 1-1 at Easter Road yesterday afternoon. Aberdeen of course recorded their first 2026 away win on Tuesday evening with that 4-0 win at Fir Park against a usually reliable Motherwell side. Nisbet did what he did best and got goal number 12 of the season but Martin Boyle converted from the penalty spot as Hibs claimed a point. Robinson said: “It’s been a great week. “The fixture list was very, very unkind to us with the travelling and the turnaround. “We have managed to finish this mini block of games two points off fourth and in a semi-final. “Credit to the players and staff as they have worked tirelessly to implement what we are trying to do. “Probably a point was deserved by both teams.” Aberdeen defender who’s been out of the team selection of late got awarded with a start in Edinburgh, but the 22-year-old was at fault in awarding Hibs the penalty. Stephen Robinson admitted it was a “bad decision” by the Aberdeen man as he barged Jason Kerr which gave John Potter’s men the penalty. The Australian International made no mistake and got his side back on level terms as the Aberdeen keeper was unable to do exactly what he did last week in Kilmarnock. Robinson said: “It was a penalty. “I feel if you defend that deep you are going to make a mistake and be punished at some stage in the game. “In the first half our line of engagement was higher and I thought we played really well on the counter at times, some really good stuff. “But ultimately you are open to a mistake and we made one with a bad decision and were punished for that.”
Match Report: St Johnstone 1-1 Falkirk
St Johnstone show character to rescue a point at McDiarmid Park against Falkirk. After an uneventful start to the match, the first chance of the game fell to the hosts. Fowler did well to pick out Steven, whose effort, from just inside the area, forced Bain into making a diving save. Alic then found himself inside the Falkirk box in a promising position; his initial cutback was dealt with. However, the full-back received it again and picked out Holt, whose effort was well blocked. Falkirk had their first effort of the match on 26 minutes. Krauhaus did well to work the space for a shot, but his effort was tame and was easily saved by Steward. With 10 minutes to go until first-half stoppage time, McAlear’s pinpoint pass found Steven, who found himself baring down on the Falkirk goal, but was denied by a combination of Bain’s foot and the crossbar. On 40 minutes, Diabate was caught in possession by Krauhaus, who slipped Murrell in, and with just the keeper to beat, the striker blasted the ball over the crossbar. Falkirk were awarded a free kick in a promising position, just before the end to the half, which saw Diabate receive the first booking of the afternoon. The free kick, taken by Barbrook, hit the wall and went out for a corner. HT: St Johnstone 0-0 Falkirk Into the second period, St Johnstone were reduced to ten men. Ross spun Diabate, then, in an attempt to recover the situation, the centre back pulled back the forward and was subsequently shown a second yellow. Simo Valakari wasted no time in making a change following the red card, bringing on Finlayson for Campbell. Falkirk hit the front on the hour mark. Eams cut the ball back to Ross, who picked out the bottom corner to give the visitors the advantage. St Johnstone started to pile on the pressure as they looked to get back into the match. Alic had an ambitious shot from far out, which was easily saved by Bain, before Paton saw his cut back deflect out for a corner. Moments later, Paton was found, free, at the back post; however, the substitute’s volley was well saved by Bain. Doherty played MacIver through, but Steven got back and stopped Falkirk from doubling their lead. In the final minute of additional time, St Johnstone were awarded a free kick, which was taken by Alic, who picked out the top corner to rescue a point for the Saints. A dramatic ending at McDiarmid Park.