Scottish Premiership: Three things we learned as Celtic stay nine points clear
Despite there only being three midweek fixtures in the Scottish Premiership, it was a night filled with lots of goals and tense moments.
Here are three things we learned from last night’s fixtures…
Celtic keep hold of their nine-point lead
CELTIC 4-0 ST. MIRREN
A comfortable night for the Hoops as they ran riot against a St. Mirren side who were no match for Scotland’s reigning champions. There was a slight scare for Ange Postecoglou’s team in the opening few minutes as Curtis Main managed to break through the defence and slip the ball past Joe Hart, however, fortunately for Celtic, VAR intervened and ruled the goal offside.
However, it wasn’t long until the hosts made their breakthrough as Liel Abada volleyed the ball into the net after a scramble in the box. Kyogo Furuhashi increased his goal tally to 17 for the season with his two strikes; a marvellous dink over Trevor Carson and a simple tap-in. Substitute David Turnbull finished the game off in style with a wonderful long-range effort, leaving the Buddies ‘keeper unable to reach it.
The Saints tried their best to make an impact in the match, but the occasion was too much for them as they remain seventh in the table. Whereas for the Hoops, their form in the league just keeps getting better and better as their drive for the title remains on course.
Morelos double avoids Killie scare
KILMARNOCK 2-3 RANGERS
Michael Beale is now seven games unbeaten since his arrival at Rangers as his side defeated Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The game got off to an early start as the hosts got the opener in the first five minutes with Chris Stokes heading the ball past Jon McLaughlin.
Despite taking the lead, it was Rangers who controlled the majority of the match with Alfredo Morelos getting one back for his side as he struck the ball into the bottom corner. After the break, it wasn’t long until Rangers made it two as Ryan Kent had ample space to open himself up and drill the ball past Sam Walker.
The game went from bad to worse for Kilmarnock as Daniel Armstrong earned a second yellow card for elbowing Borna Barsisic in the face, leaving his side down to 10 men. Morelos then got his second of the match as his header smashed past Walker, but the hosts managed to get a goal back as Joe Wright scored a brilliant volley in the box.
However, it was too late for any real threat as Rangers got the three points and continue their hunt to catch league leaders Celtic. It is another defeat for Derek McInnes' side which leaves them struggling in the relegation playoff spot.
Hearts embarrass Dons in five-goal thriller
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 5-0 ABERDEEN
It was plain sailing for the Jambos as they took advantage of a heavily deflated Aberdeen side who were still heartbroken from the weekend’s semi-finals. Hearts opened the scoring from a corner as Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie turned the ball into his own net, a moment he will not want to remember since returning to his former side.
The hosts continued with their constant attacks as Michael Smith was free to curl the ball past Joe Lewis to get their second of the night. The game was finished before half time with Lawrence Shankland striking from the penalty spot and Josh Ginnelly scoring at the near post. Shankland’s penalty kick was his 16th goal of the season, only one behind Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.
It became humiliating for the Dons as Cammy Devlin’s shot deflected off stand-in captain Ross McCrorie and gave the Jambos their fifth goal of the match. It was a scintillating performance from Robbie Neilson’s men who climb to third in the table. However, the pressure mounts on Jim Goodwin with many supporters calling for his dismissal. A defeat to sixth-tier Darvel in the Scottish Cup on Monday could be the end of the Goodwin era.
Other Fixtures
LIVINGSTON P-P DUNDEE UNITED