Celtic have claimed the spoils in the first Old Firm game of the 2022/23 season, defeating Rangers 1-0 after a thrilling game at Ibrox.
The blue half of Glasgow would have hoped to make a statement by overcoming their city rivals in the first meeting of the campaign, although things would turn out rather differently.
Kyogo was the man to get the all important goal, with his strike just before halftime proving to be the difference between the sides.
🍀 "What a finish this is from Kyogo! A devastating finish!"
Celtic take a dramatic first-half lead at Ibrox! Analysis from the opening 45 is next on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/bcmGVo5hCz— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 3, 2023
This result means that there is already four points between these sides four games into the campaign.
Kris Boyd furious over disallowed Ranger goal in Celtic loss
Rangers failed to get a goal in this game, although they did have the ball in the back of the net on a couple of occasions. They thought they had opened the scoring inside the first minute of the contest, although Rabbi Matando's strike would rightly be ruled out for offside.
The second disallowed goal was a bit more contentious.
Kemar Roofe was the man to get it, finishing off the move after Cyriel Desser won the ball off Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke in a dangerous area before setting up his teammate. However, the strike would be ruled out after a VAR intervention, with Roffe adjudged to have fouled Lagerbielke in the buildup to the goal.
👀 Goal or no goal?
Roofe has the ball in the net for Rangers but the goal is ruled out after a VAR check! Dessers is adjudged to have fouled Lagerbielke in the build-up! Thoughts? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pndovgt2m9— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 3, 2023
While most would have few arguments over what looked like a fairly clearcut foul, Kris Boyd viewed things differently.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Rangers striker said it was an 'absolutely shocking decision' to rule out the goal from his old team.
🗣️ "It's an absolutely shocking decision!"
🗣️ "It looks like he's kicked the back of his calf... For me, it's a foul!"
Neil Lennon, James McFadden and Kris Boyd discuss Rangers' disallowed goal. Watch the second-half action live next on Sky Sports 📺👇 pic.twitter.com/V8vMMNhQc2— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) September 3, 2023
It's an absolutely shocking decision to be honest.
You can see it here, [Gustaf] Lagerbielke just kicks the back of [Cyriel] Dessers' foot, I know it's in the action. If we are getting goals chalked off, all of us here want to see more goals and entertainment. That there is a goal.
He is caught on the ball, he goes to play it on his left foot when he should just clear it on his right foot, Desser takes it off him and goes through on goal and Kemar Roofe finishes it magnificently.
How that can be brought back for a foul is incredible.
Don Robertson (the referee) when he goes over there has got to be stronger. He has made a decision on the field and has got to be stronger when he goes there.
Both James McFadden and Neil Lennon, the other pundits in the studio, felt that it was probably a foul on Lagerbielke in the buildup to the goal.
Rangers still had plenty of time to respond to the Celtic opener, although they would not manage to break down the away side in the second half of the game.
As a result, they have already conceded quite a bit of ground in the title race.
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