NIGHTMARE START
From the moment Joe Hart saved Ryan Kent’s shot within the first minute, Celtic dominated the first half. And on five minutes it was a disaster for Rangers with an opener gifted to Daizen Maeda.
Alfredo Morelos played a horror blind pass into the Japanese forward who bundled past a weak James Tavernier tackle before surging beyond Connor Goldson and tucking into the bottom corner.
It was an awful sequence for Rangers and will have had Michael Beale and supporters majorly concerned with the hosts unable to do the very basics in a first 45 minutes packed with basic errors from both sides.
Fortunately, it would just remain a one-goal deficit as Rangers rallied to come back into contention in the closing stages. Morelos should have redeemed himself with a leveller but was wasteful in front of goal.
HALF TIME INSPIRATION
Whatever Michael Beale said at the interval worked. His side looked well off the pace and without a chance as outside title hopes faded without a trace.
But in the second 45 minutes, Rangers were a completely different team; committed, determined and full of quality – for the most part.
Ryan Kent and Fashion Sakala were electric and the energy provided after Kent’s opener only boosted the work-rate and desire in the Rangers ranks in the second period.
It seemed there would, against the odds of the first half, only be one winner after a team-talk from Beale. The Ibrox boss had conjured up a super second half showing which shows the true quality in the Rangers ranks.
In spite of this, Celtic were relentless and grabbed a leveller with three minutes left as one lapse in the box allowed Kyogo to pounce.
BACK IN FASHION
Fashion Sakala was perhaps a surprise inclusion in the Rangers line-up at Ibrox. It maybe even raised a few more eyebrows when he trudged back out to start the second half after a difficult opening 45 minutes.
However, Sakala was in inspired form in the second half and was a driving force in the Rangers team to force Celtic back in a standout performance. He battled against Greg Taylor in the first half, but found his real joy against Josip Juranovic who replaced his injured team-mate after 20 minutes.
It was Sakala’s incisive running which created the first goal as he fed Kent on the left-hand side of the box. And shortly after, Sakala was at it again to race into the box before being felled by Carl Starfelt allowing James Tavernier to rocket into the top corner.
It’d be a surprise to see Sakala on the bench going forward, he’s surely played his way into Beale’s plans.
RYAN KENT PERFORMS Ryan Kent’s shot in the first few seconds of the match signalled his intent and it seemed he would be the man to make or break the game for Rangers.
So many of the Ibrox players had an off-day in the first half and Kent didn’t thrill but there was always a feeling he could be influential if given more of the ball as the match wore on.
Kent is often criticised for his output, and particularly so in big matches, but he stepped up when needed at Ibrox. Given a sight of goal in the second half and Kent curled expertly into the far corner past the despairing Joe Hart in the Celtic goal. It was a tremendously taken goal and highlighted the £7million player Kent still is when he is at the top of his game.
With just six months left on his deal, Kent could be set to move on in the summer, but his celebration after hitting the leveller showed his commitment to the cause this season.
TITLE RACE ON?
It started at nine points, looked like it would turn into a surely insurmountable 12, was as low as six but ended up staying exactly the same.
The title race looked over as Celtic quickly took the lead at Rangers, was very much back on with Rangers headed for victory but returned to an awkward nine-point gap with Kyogo's late equaliser.
There's no doubt Michael Beale would have thought Rangers in with a shot of a remarkable league comeback should his side have held on - but a draw doesn't end the league as a contest.
Make no mistake, Celtic are still well in control with their lead, but with 18 matches still to be played – and two of those against Celtic – a lot can change at the Scottish Premiership summit.
