The Derby Decider
Rangers secured another massive victory over their rivals Celtic on Sunday. Ryan Naderi scored the only goal of the match to seal a 1-0 win at Celtic Park. The victory means Derek McInnes's side have now beaten Celtic twice in just eight days.
The result leaves Celtic just two points ahead of Rangers at the top of the William Hill Premiership table as we head into the international break. It was also Celtic's first league defeat of the season. The home fans made their frustration clear with loud boos at the final whistle.
How the Match Unfolded
The match was played in front of only home supporters due to a ticket dispute between the two clubs. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Rangers started brightly. Winger Djeidi Gassama missed an early chance, while Celtic had a goal ruled out when Auston Trusty's effort was disallowed for an offside against Liam Scales.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute. James Penrice took a corner from the left, which was cleared to Kim Min-su. His shot from distance was parried by Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, and Naderi reacted quickest to fire the rebound into the net. Rangers almost doubled their lead shortly after, but Gassama hit the woodwork and Kevin Kelsy's follow up was blocked.
Pressure Mounts on O'Neill
Celtic tried to fight back in the second half. The Celtic manager, who is 74 years old, brought on Kasper Hogh, and Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur had to make a brilliant save from Colby Donovan's header. However, Rangers remained dangerous. Naderi missed a great chance with a header from close range, and Olwethu Makhanya had a goal ruled out for handball in the 74th minute.
This defeat puts heavy pressure on Martin O'Neill. The Celtic boss has now suffered three successive losses, including last Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup. With the international break now here, the home side faces a tough period.
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