Celtic go 13 points clear as Rangers surrender two-goal lead

Celtic atoned for their Old Firm defeat at Ibrox by going 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 victory at home to St Mirren on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were comfortable throughout at Celtic Park and, while the visitors had done well to hold out until the first goal in the 33rd minute, it had always seemed like it would be a matter of time.

Nicolas Kuhn was the player who made the breakthrough, finishing off a move that had been started by Luke McCowan. The 27-year-old found Daizen Maeda on the left, who fed Kuhn to finish first time.

Just 10 minutes later, Celtic had another when Auston Trusty marked his return to the starting XI with a goal. The United States international headed home from Arne Engels’ corner to kill the game as a contest.

Kuhn almost scored what would have been one of the goals of the season after a counterattack initiated by Kasper Schmeichel, but was denied by visiting goalkeeper Zach Hemming.

The German winger did get his second eventually, which was gifted to him by Hemming as he dropped the ball at Kuhn’s feet. Adam Idah also had a fourth ruled out for offside, but that could not take the shine off a good day for Celtic.

Three points secured at Paradise! #CELSTM | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/WXPh6Fl5Nl

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 5, 2025

That result meant Celtic added another two points to their lead over Rangers at the top, which had been cut by the Gers’ 3-0 Old Firm victory earlier this week.

Rangers were unable to reproduce the same level of performance in the early kick-off away to Hibernian, in a game that ended 3-3.

Philippe Clement’s side had initially got themselves two goals to the good within the opening 19 minutes, with both coming from Hamza Igamane.

But the visitors were pegged back by a Martin Boyle brace either side of half-time, the latter of his two goals coming from the penalty spot after Ianis Hagi bundled over Josh Campbell.

Rangers fans thought they had wrapped up the three points in the 74th minute though, when Igamane got his hat-trick with a first-time finish from Vaclav Cerny’s cross.

But they were pegged back once again, when Rocky Bushiri headed in from a corner to equalise in the 83rd minute.