LAST UPDATE | 14 Sep 2019
JAMES FORREST SCORED the only goal just four minutes in as Celtic made it five wins from as many games in the Scottish Premiership with a 1-0 win at Hamilton on Saturday.
The Scottish champions lead over Rangers remains three points after Steven Gerrard’s men recovered from going behind to beat Livingston 3-1 at Ibrox.
Mohamed Elyounoussi made an instant impact on his Celtic debut as the Norwegian winger, on loan from Southampton, squared for Forrest to tap home his seventh goal in nine games at club level.
“I can’t ask any more of the players at the moment. We got off to a great start and played brilliantly in the first-half,” said Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the form we are in and we are six points clear as we speak, which is a great start to the season.
“It was a really good performance. Great win, clean sheet, five wins out of five.”
Lennon’s men should have put the game to bed well before half-time, but their lack of a killer instinct gave Hamilton hope.
Forrest came close to a second just after the break when he smashed off the underside of the bar.
But substitute Marios Ogkmpoe came close to snatching a point for the hosts in the latter stages as he dragged wide a shot from inside the box and then just failed to connect with Scott McMann’s cross deep into stoppage time.
Rangers bounced back from losing the Old Firm game to their fierce rivals before the international break, but at a cost as £7 million signing Ryan Kent limped off injured in the first half at Ibrox.
Things went from bad to worse at the start of the second-half for the hosts as Steven Lawless opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Livie.
However, Gerrard’s men fought back to prevent another blow to their chances of stopping Celtic recording a ninth straight league title.
Captain James Tavernier levelled with a free-kick in the 55th minute before Alfredo Morelos’s close-range finish put Rangers in front.
Brandon Barker had replaced Kent and the on-loan Manchester City winger wrapped up maximum points after Lyndon Dykes had been sent-off for Livingston.
As the Glasgow giants race away at the top of the table, it was another miserable afternoon for Edinburgh duo Hearts and Hibs.
Craig Levein faced further calls for his resignation as Hearts slipped to the bottom of the table after a 3-2 home defeat to Motherwell.
Hibs manager Paul Heckingbottom is also under pressure after a 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock.
Aberdeen slipped to fourth after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to St. Johnstone.
And Marcus Fraser netted a stoppage-time winner as Ross County beat St Mirren 2-1 in Dingwall.
With the warm-up games out of the way, Murray, Bernard and Gavan discuss the renewed cause for optimism, impressive individual player form, and a potential quarter-final versus either South Africa or New Zealand.
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