Glasgow city rivals Celtic and Rangers are yet to drop point in the season's 3 matches played, both on 100% winning start to the Scottish Premiership season, Celtic's scoring spree to the season continues with another 3-1 over Hearts, while city neighbour Rangers, also recorded a 1 nil win at St Mirren. Both clubs are now poised and well pumped up going into coming weekend Old Firm Derby.
ST MIRREN 0-1 RANGERS;
It is Steven Gerrard's 2nd season at the elms of affairs at Ibrox and the ex England International cannot afford to slip up in the early sprint with Celtic as the season begins to gear up. They have begun the season on an impressive note, winning her 3rd straight league matches, having begun with an opening day fixture slim 2-1 win at Kilmarnock, they then stepped their game up with a 6-1 drubbing of Hibernian in matchday 2. The latest 1 nil win over St Mirren over the weekend made it 9 points, 8 goals scored and just a lone goal conceded by Rangers.
The victory over St Mirren was a hard-fought one, Rangers had to dig deep before they could break down a resolute St Mirren defence. St Mirren offered little in the Rangers' half but could have gotten a chance to take the lead had the centre referee awarded them a spot-kick when Rangers' Filip Helander looked to have brought down Celtic's Jonathan Obika, instead, it was Rangers who rode their luck when left-back Borna Barisic curled in a delightful 59th minute free-kick to snatched all 3 points for Rangers. A relief for Gerrard whose team had a total of 15 shots but only 7 were on target.
Rangers defence had put in quite a performance so far, conceding just a goal in 3 matches is remarkable, however, the attack needs to be more clinical if they really want to pose a challenge to Celtic's dominance.
CELTIC 3-1 HEARTS;
Celtic might have been knocked out of the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Champions League by the Romania side CFR Cluj, they are however doing fine on the domestic front, qualifying for the next rounds of the Scottish League Cup alongside their impressive start to the premiership. They've now also recorded their 3rd straight win with a 3-1 win over Hearts at Celtic Park. Neil Lennon tutored side followed up their 7 nil thrashing of St Johnstone in the league opener with another 5-2 win at Motherwell, making it 9 points from the 3 matches, scoring a staggering 15 goals and conceded 3.
Celtic dominated their visitors in possession(61%) and in shots(9), as they made light work of Hearts. 2 goals from their Ivorian striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo(29', 60'), one each in either half and a 3rd from Callum McGregor(54'), a sensational 25-yard strike completed the 1 sided tie. Connor Washington(81') did get a late consolation for Hearts when he rebounded his saved spot-kick back into the net. It's now 3 matches without a win for Hearts in the new season and 6 winless league matches stretching back to the 2018/19 season(W0, D1, L5).
Celtic may be scoring freely, however, they need to address their defence. They might be getting away with conceding goals on the domestic front but not in Europe, conceding 3 goals on home turf against CFR Cluj(3-4 agg), having drawn the 1st leg 1-1 away, ultimately ended their UCL campaign.
All road now leads to the Ibrox Stadium next weekend in a Super-Sunday clash between Rangers and City rival Celtic in what is known as the Old Firm Derby. The result might be inconsequential to the title race yet(35 matches still to play), however, whichever side wins get the bragging right.
Thank you all for your time.
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