Celtic made a major statement in their Scottish Premiership title challenge on Saturday, opening up a three-point lead at the summit with an impressive 4-1 victory away to Hearts. The champions took full advantage of Aberdeen’s first slip-up of the season to surge clear at the top of the table.
Furuhashi Fires Celtic Ahead at Hearts
Kyogo Furuhashi continued his scintillating form this season by breaking the deadlock at Tynecastle 10 minutes after halftime. The Japanese forward showed his predatory instincts to pounce and give Celtic a crucial lead in a tight affair.
That opened the floodgates as Nicolas Gerrit-Kühn quickly doubled the Hoops’ advantage before Adam Idah netted a quickfire brace, including one from the penalty spot, to put the game out of Hearts’ reach. Musa Drammeh did pull one back for the hosts but it was mere consolation.
St Mirren Stun Aberdeen
Aberdeen saw their unbeaten start to the Premiership campaign come to a crashing halt with a 2-1 defeat away to St Mirren. The match at St Mirren Park was delayed by an hour due to heavy snow but that did not cool the hosts’ hot start.
Toyosi Olusanya fired Stephen Robinson’s side in front after 20 minutes and St Mirren could have been further ahead by halftime.
– Sources at the match
The Dons did equalize through Jamie McGrath early in the second half but Richard Taylor’s late header earned a deserved win for St Mirren. The result sees Aberdeen slip three points behind rampant league leaders Celtic.
Rangers Frustrated By Dundee United
Rangers endured a frustrating afternoon at Ibrox as they were held 1-1 by Dundee United. Sam Dalby headed the visitors into a shock lead before halftime and although Vaclav Cerny leveled after the break, the Light Blues could not find a winner.
The draw leaves Rangers languishing in fourth place, now a full 13 points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic at the Premiership summit. Manager Philippe Clement bemoaned his side’s inability to penetrate a stubborn United rearguard.
Very frustrating to lose points and we have already lost too many this season. So we know we don’t have credit in the bank in that way.
– Rangers manager Philippe Clement
Ronan Hale Sparks Ross County Win
Elsewhere, Ross County defeated Motherwell 2-1 at home thanks to a brace within the opening 10 minutes of the second half from striker Ronan Hale. The Steelmen could only muster a late consolation through Zach Robinson.
4-Star Dundee Demolish Hibs
Dundee triumphed emphatically 4-1 at home to Hibernian to heap more pressure on embattled Hibs boss David Gray. The Dark Blues recovered from Nicky Cadden’s early opener to lead 3-1 by halftime through Jordan McGhee, a Necitarios Triantis own goal and Seb Palmer-Houlden. Substitute Curtis Main added gloss to the scoreline late on.
Kirk Header Ends Saints’ Slump
Finally, Makenzie Kirk’s glancing header was enough to earn St Johnstone a much-needed 1-0 home win over 10-man Kilmarnock. Kirk’s first-half effort halted a run of three straight defeats for Saints while the visitors had Liam Donnelly dismissed in the closing stages to compound their misery.
Celtic Take Control
But the day undoubtedly belonged to rampant Celtic as they ruthlessly punished any Aberdeen slip to stretch their lead at the top to three points. With their attacking arsenal firing on all cylinders and rivals faltering in their wake, the Hoops are firmly in the driving seat in their quest to retain the Scottish Premiership title.
