Celtic v Rangers debrief

Sports editor Mark Atkinson reports from the first Old Firm derby of the season.

Transcript

00:00Good afternoon from Celtic Park. Mark Atkinson, Sports Director here, having just witnessed

00:07Celtic's very comfortable and convincing 3-0 win over Rangers in the first Old Firm game

00:13of the season. What a statement from the champions to put down against their arch rivals and

00:19closest challengers. For the title this was a dominant performance from Celtic who will

00:26be delighted now with the start they've made to the season. 100% record, five points clear

00:30of Rangers four games into the campaign. Bar a slightly testing start to the match where

00:37Rangers had a couple of chances, Celtic were in complete control, dominated this game really

00:41from the word go. You felt that Rangers weren't able to get close to Celtic's fast football.

00:50They play at a different pace, a different level, especially in midfield. Rayo Hatate,

00:55Callum McGregor and Paolo Bernardo, far too strong for Conor Barron, Mohamed Diamondi

00:59and Dijon Sturgeon, the latter two who are very ineffective. Callum McGregor was probably

01:04the star man, scored another wonderful goal from long range, making that a habit now.

01:08That was the third goal in the second half after Celtic had gone 2-0 up in the first

01:13half through goals from Dijon Maida and Kyoko Furuhashi. The key moment probably was the

01:19second goal, Furuhashi passing the ball into the net from about 30 yards out. The Rangers

01:23goalkeeper, Jack Butland, looked a little suspect, he didn't get down to the ball quick

01:28enough either. Rangers will lament that lack of clarity and lack of quality at either end

01:35of the pitch. Cyril Dessars missed a good chance, Adam Rotondo missed a good chance.

01:40At the back, Butland potentially at fault for that second goal and certainly Man Utd's

01:44defensive shape in those key moments let them down. Ultimately though, the gulf between

01:50these two teams remains really big. Celtic are spending in the region of £18 million

01:55on deadline day, Rangers on the other hand are spending about £4 million. It shows where

02:01these two teams are right now. Philippe Clement, the Rangers manager, he admitted as much afterwards

02:07in his post-match press conference, he said we need to be better in January. The question

02:11is between now and then have they got the scope and the quality in this dressing room

02:15to address what is now a yawning chasm between them and Celtic. Final whistle here at Parkhead,

02:22Celtic 3, Rangers 9.