RANGERS GUBBED AGAIN AT PARKHEAD

Celtic moved to within touching distance of another league title as Kyogo Furuhashi's double inspired a dramatic 3-2 win against Rangers in the 34th Glasgow derby since 2012.

Kyogo has been Celtic's catalyst for much of the campaign and the Japanese was at it again with the team's opener in yesterday's clash at Parkhead.

Rangers captain James Tavernier equalised with a well taken free-kick before lousy defending from the Huns handed Celtic second-half goals from Kyogo and Jota.

Tavernier's and Rangers' second took him to 100 goals for Rangers, but Celtic seen out a wee bit of last minute nerves to claim a third victory over their bitter rivals this season.

Ange Postecoglou's side sit 12 points clear of second-placed Rangers with seven games left as they look set to retain last season's title, the club's second legal title in a row under the Australian boss. [sic]

The Bhoys are on the verge of securing an 11th title in the last 12 seasons and could yet enjoy more success at Rangers' expense, with a Scottish Cup semi-final date set for April 30.

Celtic had won the most recent derby showdown in the Scottish League Cup final in February and are now unbeaten in six successive league derbies.

There were no Rangers fans allowed into Paradise yesterday in a tit for tat move done up as 'safety concerns', but the atmosphere generated by the 60,000 crowd was still at fever pitch by kick-off in the east end of Glasgow.

Celtic had almost made a dream start when Alastair Johnston's lofted pass reached Kyogo, who instinctively drilled the ball through the legs of Rangers' antique goalie, Allan McGregor, only to see the celebrations spoiled by an offside flag.

Rangers were denied in more controversial circumstances (according to the Hun media) when Alfredo Morelos stole in at the back post from a corner, but referee Kevin Clancy immediately disallowed the goal for the Colombian's contact with Celtic's Alistair Johnston as the pair jostled for the ball. 

The decision was upheld by VAR, much to the chagrin of Ally McCoist in the commentary box, who continued his tirade against, not VAR, but the Scottish implementation of it. 

Most people who have listened to McCoist will no doubt be aware of his severely uncomfortable Scottish cringe, McCoist rarely, if ever, passes up an opportunity to run down anything that's managed by Scots in their own country, with the exception of Scottish football's newest top flight entity, Rangers, aka Sevco Ltd 2012.

Anyhow, that correct decision proved crucial as the champions broke the deadlock shortly thereafter in the 26th minute.

Matt O'Riley cut his pass back to the middle of the penalty area, where Kyogo took a deft touch and swivelled on a sixpence to plant home a clinical finish past Ould Grecian McGregor.

Against the run of play, Rangers drew level on the stroke of half-time after O'Riley slid in to tackle Malky Tillman, with referee Clancy incorrectly awarding the Huns a free kick.

Tavernier took full advantage of the gift as he curled a decent 25-yard free-kick past Joe Hart via the underside of the crossbar.

Hart plunged to his right to deny Morelos after some uncharacteristically Hunnish defending by the Bhoys presented a golden opportunity to the heavy boned Rangers striker straight after the interval.

Ould Buffalo Buttocks was stopped by his own team-mate from the resultant corner kick when his goalbound shot was comically blocked by Ryan Jack.

But just as Rangers had started having fanciful ideas of seizing the momentum, they were sobered up in the 62nd minute.

Michael Beale's (no relation to Ian) team only had themselves to blame as Ben Davies miscued a clearance in his own six-yard box and tried to rescue the situation with a panicked header that bounced off Jota's clacker bag and into the path of Kyogo, who needed no invitation to fire home from close-range.

The frenzied Celtic celebrations on the pitch and in the stands underlined the significance of Kyogo's 28th goal in all competitions this season.

If the second goal was a gift from Rangers, then Celtic's third in the 73rd minute came thanks to more pish defending.

Rangers' "next big thing" John Souttar's weak backpass was well short of Semtex McGregor, who almost exploded in his usual bampot style as Jota nipped in and slotted into the empty net from a narrow angle.

Rangers refused to surrender (haha) [sic] and Tavernier got one back in the 79th minute, arriving at the far post to meet Borna Barisic's cross with a powerful downward header that gave big Joe Hart no chance.

In a nervy last minute, Rangers were once again gifted a free kick on the edge of Celtic's 18yd box, but they made an arse of it,  and after that, well, the gemme wis oors!

Hail Hail.