As Rangers fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to claim a potentially invaluable point in Sunday’s thrilling Old Firm derby, it became a six-goal thriller that will be best remembered for the actions of Philippe Clement’s left-wingers.
Fabio Silva may have won the penalty that dragged Rangers back into the game – the Wolves loanee taking the latest in a series of tumbles as Chris Sutton seethed in the punditry booth – but it was the man who replaced him with 69 minutes on the clock who ended up hogging the headlines for more positive reasons.
And it’s not as if Alistair Johnston, the Celtic right-back who had been turned inside out by Silva in the build-up to that admittedly contentious spot-kick, could claim not to have seen it coming.
Rabbi Matondo, just eight days earlier, rattled home a stunner in almost identical fashion in that 3-1 win over Hibernian. So, as the £3 million forward again checked back onto his favoured right boot and whipped a wicked shot into the far corner – almost like Arjen Robben in reverse – Rodgers could have been forgiven for asking a few difficult questions of the Canada international.
Despite his obvious disappointment, however – Celtic missing the chance to seize the favourites tag in the title race – Rodgers took the holistic approach at full-time. A Hoops side who arrived at Ibrox very much as underdogs – a rarity in modern times – were mere moments away from a terrific win until Matondo did something ‘fantastic’.
Rabbi Matondo rescues Rangers against Celtic
“Through to half-time and the beginning of the second-half, we were excellent in the game,” Rodgers tells the Celtic website.
“They got a bit of luck for their second goal with the deflection, so it was 2-2 and the challenge was then on – do you have the heart, the desire and the will to keep going and the players were brilliant in that.
“They kept fighting and we got a great third goal, and looked like we could see it through, but then they scored a fantastic goal at the end.
“But the key for us today was still having it in our hands, and that’s exactly the way it is.
“The players will be disappointed not to get the win – we always want to win – but it was a really good performance in a tough environment without our own supporters but I’m sure they’ll be really proud of their team and everything they gave.”
After Daizen Maeda opened the scoring after just 21 seconds and Matt O’Riley clipped a Panenka down the middle of Jack Butland’s net, Celtic looked destined to cruise to crushing victory reminiscent of the dark days of Pedro Caixinha.
It is testament to the discipline and the desire that Clement has instilled in this Rangers side, however, that the hosts never let their head drop, fighting back from the jaws of defeat not once but twice.
A big point for Philippe Clement’s side
“You expect something from Rangers, being at home, and I thought they got a bit of a leg-up with the penalty,” Rodgers adds, unhappy with the manner of the way the hosts halved Celtic’s lead with a trademark James Tavernier spot-kick.
“I didn’t think it was a penalty because I think it was right on-field – Alistair Johnston’s got a nice recovery tackle in and he nicks the ball away, the player goes down and gets booked for simulation, which I felt was correct because he was looking to win the penalty.
“But they get the penalty and score, and then at 2-1, there’s a wee bit of momentum with them.
“They got a bit of luck for their second goal with the deflection, so it was 2-2 (through Abdallah Sima) and the challenge was then on – do you have the heart, the desire and the will to keep going and the players were brilliant in that.”
