Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos ends Old Firm drought to deny Celtic derby win

Celtic have suffered far greater frustrations during this, a dismal league season, but there was cause for annoyance that they didn’t press home superiority during the third Old Firm game of the campaign. Champions Rangers, who were generally sluggish, could be the happier with the claiming of a point.

Perhaps is was appropriate that an event which started in harmonious style ended with parity. Scott Brown, the Celtic captain, made a beeline for the Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara during the pre-match warmup. Brown’s hugging of Kamara was a clear and welcome show of solidarity after the racism claims as made by the Rangers player during Thursday’s now infamous meeting with Slavia Prague. Both Celtic and Rangers players refused to take a knee before kick-off, instead standing with a view to pressing home their point.

Celtic’s opener saw Mohamed Elyounoussi head home after a cross from Odsonne Édouard. Elyounoussi’s dive saw him beat centre-back Filip Helander to the ball. There was a dive, too, from Édouard during a subsequent Celtic attack that earned the French striker a booking.

The Rangers equaliser emphasised a recurring theme, that of an inability to defend set plays. Leon Balogun headed Borna Barisic’s cross into the path of Alfredo Morelos, who scored his first goal against Celtic from close range.

Rangers did little in an attacking sense thereafter, save a Ryan Kent volley as drew a fine stop from Scott Bain. Allan McGregor saved smartly from Edouard – twice – and Callum McGregor as the hosts pressed for a winner as never arrived. As Édouard failed to connect with an inviting Jonjoe Kenny cross, the outcome appeared set. There have been decidedly more interesting – and significant – derbies.