Celtic hit seven, but Rangers retain top spot in title race

 

 

Celtic stepped up their Scottish Premiership title bid with a 7-1 rout of Dundee, but Rangers held onto first place after a second half fightback to beat Kilmarnock 2-1 on Wednesday.

Rangers are two points ahead of Glasgow rivals Celtic following their scare at Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock’s Danny Armstrong scored from the penalty spot after John Lundstram handled in the 11th minute.

But Rangers captain James Tavernier levelled in the 55th minute with a trademark free-kick before Tom Lawrence netted with a fine finish just four minutes later.

With 10 league games remaining, Philippe Clement’s side have racked up 11 successive wins in all competitions since losing to Celtic as they chase a first title since 2021.

At Parkhead, Cameron Carter-Vickers started the rout in the seventh minute and goals from Adam Idah, Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda had Celtic four up before the half-hour mark.

Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor made it six before the break and Daniel Kelly marked his league debut with a brilliantly-taken goal.

Dundee were down to 10 men through Finlay Robertson’s red card when they pulled a goal back from Michael Mellon.

Champions Celtic will take heart that they are now only one goal behind Rangers on goal difference thanks to their biggest win of the season.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had drawn twice in their previous four league matches and needed stoppage-time winners in the other two.

In the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle, Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland scored his 26th goal of the season from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw against Hibernian.

The visitors went ahead through on-loan Bournemouth playmaker Emiliano Marcondes.

But they were pegged back just before the break when Hearts were awarded a contentious spot-kick.

Shankland fired home his sixth Edinburgh derby goal since moving to Tynecastle in 2022.

smg/dj

AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)