In Monday’s Glasgow Derby, Celtic maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-2 draw at Ibrox. A cool and collected finish from Daizen Maeda in the opening five minutes saw the Hoops take an early lead. However, a change in momentum saw Ryan Kent use his right foot to curve the ball past Joe Hart to equalise. TheRangers were then awarded a questionable penalty (to say the least), which put Celtic 2-1 behind. A late goal from Kyogo levelled the match and meant both sides left with a point.
However, the draw allowed Celtic to maintain their nine-point lead over theRangers, so a draw would have felt like a loss for theRangers, as failing to close the gap at Ibrox severely damages their already slim title hopes.
However, Celtic legend John Hartson was left disgruntled with the defending from Celtic’s new right-back, Alistair Johnston, in the build-up to Ryan Kent’s goal. Hartson believes that the Canadian international had to do better and made it too easy for kent to get his shot away. Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, Hartson had this criticism for the Celtic new..
“It’s a brilliantly taken goal, but if you’re Alistair Johnston, you send him down the left side on his, I say weaker foot, he’s strong on his left side as well.
“He’s cut inside on his favoured right foot, you know what he’s going to do, you know he’s going to try and bend in that far corner beyond Joe Hart, and I just felt from a defensive point of view, it was too easy. I think Alistair Johnston should have done better, should’ve got closer.
“But listen, from (the)Rangers’ point of view, from Ryan Kent’s, he’ll probably think that’s a wonderful goal, and it is a wonderful piece of skill, but defensively, I think you’ve got to get closer there to stop that.”
Alistair Johnston has been named in the #SPFL Team of the Week for his debut #CelticFC performance in the Glasgow Derby on Monday ⭐️☘️https://t.co/8BW6hjMCDN#Celtic #CFC #Bhoys #CanMNT #CAN #WeCAN #RANCEL #CFMtl pic.twitter.com/JafFGPk6zu
— Canadian Soccer Daily (@CANSoccerDaily) January 3, 2023