Celtic Player Ratings v Rangers

Celtic lost the first Glasgow Derby of the season on Sunday afternoon. Rangers won by a goal to nil as the Hoops suffered their second defeat in the league this season. Let’s get into the player ratings. 

Joe Hart - 6/10

Joe Hart couldn’t do much to prevent the only goal of the game despite getting a touch to it. The Englishman made a few saves although they were ones you’d expect him to make. Hart was sent up to for the corner in the dying embers of the game but couldn’t do much to help his side earn a draw. 

Anthony Ralston - 7/10

Ralston wasn’t so good going forward but the right back was sound defensively. A number of crunching tackles would’ve been, no doubt, met with loud cheers from Celtic fans had there been any in Ibrox this afternoon. 

Carl Starfelt - 6/10

The Swede won several headers and made sure Kevin Clancy knew of his opinion when the referee made some decisions he wasn’t content with. Starfelt built up the play fairly well but fellow Swede Filip Helander climbed above him in the box to score the only goal of the game. 

Stephen Welsh - 6/10

Similarly to Starfelt, Welsh passed it around the back ably but the one instance where he stepped into the midfield with the ball, he lost out. I cannot recall anything Welsh did majorly wrong in the match but I also can’t remember being astounded by one of his actions. 

Josip Juranovic - 7/10

The reason Josip Juranovic gets a higher rating than Stephen Welsh is because the Croatian was thrown in at the deep end. He made his Celtic debut in a colossal fixture and also featured out of position at left back. This probably limited the 26 year old to any attacking involvements of note. Juranovic looks a tidy player who could turn out to be a prospective bargain from Celtic’s point of view going forward. 

Callum McGregor - 5/10

Callum McGregor was lucky to escape a booking this afternoon after several fouls. The Celtic captain was pushed into a more attacking role when Ismaila Soro was introduced with approximately twenty minutes to go but was unable to affect the game in that manner. McGregor commenced the match in the pivot role in midfield but ended it in the afore mentioned position. The 28 year old, comparably with his midfield partners, ghosted in and out of the game. 

David Turnbull - 5/10

Unlike McGregor, Turnbull was shown a yellow card in the match. The 22 year old likes to play passes from deep to open up defences as well as thoroughly shoot from range but he couldn’t do any of the above today. Some of Turnbull’s corners where wayward also. The Scotland International was incapable of following up a hat trick last weekend against St. Mirren with another terrific league performance today. 

Ryan Christie - 4/10

The Ryan Christie we seen today rang bells of the one we saw last season. Some of his efforts on goal rose high over the bar. Christie was also incompetent when he moved to the left wing after the departure of Odsonne Edouard from the field of play. 

Liel Abada - 6/10

Liel Abada wasn’t drastically encompassed in the action with the bulk of Celtic’s creativity and play coming down the left hand side hence why he earns himself an average rating of six. Abada didn’t do a great amount wrong in the match however in playing ninety minutes, you would’ve hoped he could’ve affected the contest more. 

Odsonne Edouard - 5/10

The Frenchman hasn’t looked razor sharp this campaign so far despite scoring two goals in the Premiership. After speculation over a move has gathered pace this weekend, this may have been the final time Edouard emerged from the tunnel in a Celtic shirt. He would’ve been hoping to sign off in style but missed a mere sitter when Kyogo found him free in the box. The 23 year old’s name was also inserted into the referee’s book when he prevented Rangers’ keeper Robbie McCrorie from commencing a counter attack after a Celtic corner. 

Kyogo Furuhashi - 6/10

It is fair to say Kyogo’s best position is through the middle. The Japanese though, created a guilt-edged opportunity for Odsonne Edouard when he was playing there in the first half. On around the 70th minute, Kyogo moved to a more central position when Edouard left the field of play. The 26 year old could’ve and probably should’ve at least either set up or scored a goal towards the end of the game with two chances. The first, Kyogo opted to shoot when he arguably should’ve squared it for Ryan Christie and the second opportunity was the opposite of this. Kyogo passed when a shot would’ve certainly troubled the Rangers keeper. The attacker will now jet off for international duty in the coming days. 

Substitutes (As Adam Montgomery played just six or so minutes, he will not be rated) 

Ismaila Soro - 5/10

Soro was introduced on the 68th minute. The Ivorian’s crisp passing is one of his characteristics and he played a lovely ball in behind for Kyogo but the Japanese couldn’t convert. Soro though, was caught in possession in the last ten minutes of the ninety and Fashion Sakala’s poor effort failed to punish the midfielder. 

Tom Rogic - 6/10

Had Tom Rogic have played from the beginning this afternoon, I feel there could’ve been a different outcome. The Australian’s physicality and close control were noticeable when he came on at the same time as Ismaila Soro. A couple of distinctive dribbles were positive as was his through ball for Kyogo whose chance could’ve drew Celtic level. Just like the Japanese, Rogic will now head to the other side of the world for International duty. 

Arguably the biggest game for Celtic so far this season ended in a disappointing defeat. In my opinion, Rangers took their chances and Celtic didn’t. As simple as that. However, let’s not forget how far Celtic have come since Ange Postecoglou arrived in Glasgow. 

Thank you for reading this article. Feel free to leave a comment down below and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @Josh_Footblog.