Rogic sparks Celtic to Old Firm victory
Celtic maintained the Glasgow bragging rights as Tom Rogic and Leigh Griffiths sealed victory in the first Old Firm game of the season.
Second-half goals from Australia's Tom Rogic and free-scoring Leigh Griffiths gave Celtic a deserved 2-0 victory over bitter rival Rangers at Ibrox in the first Scottish Professional Football League Old Firm derby of the season.
Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha named a starting XI featuring seven players taking part in their first Glasgow derby and it was a chastening experience for most of them.
Celtic pinned its neighbours back for much of the opening exchanges and the only surprise when Socceroos star Rogic found the breakthrough was that it took 50 minutes to arrive.
Griffiths' sixth goal of the season arrived a quarter of an hour later and Brendan Rodgers's champion is already eight points better off than its rival after seven matches.
Rangers deserved some credit for coming through a tortured opening unscathed, with Wes Foderingham saving impressively when Rogic unleashed a rising shot at the end of a driving run inside the first minute.
Griffiths spurned a glorious headed opportunity, while Patrick Roberts tormented the Rangers defence repeatedly from the right flank.
Caixinha's men gradually worked their way into the match and, after he had a penalty appeal waved away, Alfredo Morelos slid in at the far post to almost give Rangers the lead from James Tavernier's searching cross.
Roberts danced through a host of challenges after the half hour to draw another stop from Foderingham but it was a less accomplished piece of work from the Manchester City loanee that played a part in the opening goal.
Rangers could only partially clear a Griffiths corner from the left and Roberts scuffed a shot from the edge of the box. The ball evaded a cluster of blue shirts and Rogic pounced, pivoting to smash left footed into the roof of the net.
Kenny Miller was introduced for Rangers and the veteran striker's header across goal teed up Morelos for an equaliser, but Craig Gordon saved superbly.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 65th minute when Roberts came in field to release Griffiths with an exquisite throughball and the Scotland striker made no mistake.
