Celtic 1-0 Rangers LIVE! Jota goal - Old Firm match stream, latest score and updates today
Celtic are closing in on the Scottish Premiership title as they lead Rangers 1-0 at the break at Celtic Park.
The first big chance of the match fell to Ryan Kent, when he got on the end of James Tavernier’s brilliant cross only to divert it wide from close range. Kent then fired a shot from distance straight at Joe Hart soon after.
With just over 20 minutes played, it was Celtic who took the lead. Daizen Maeda found space to drill a low cross towards the far post, where Jota beat Borna Barisic to it and provided the finish.
The hosts increasingly took control of the match and Jota could well have had a second, though he sent a difficult headed chance flying over the bar.
READ MOREAn even better opportunity came for Maeda just before half-time. The ball was looped to him superbly by Jota and he was completely free, but Allan McGregor charging off his line clearly put him off and the Celtic man flicked the header wide.
With kick-off at 12pm BST, keep up to date with all the action via Standard Sport’s live blog...
Huge 45 minutes needed from Rangers. Their title hopes are very much slipping away.
Kent was the most dangerous player for the visitors in that first-half... he’ll be thinking about that early miss at the back post.
No stoppage time so that will be half-time at Celtic Park.
Jota’s goal separates the sides at the break, with Celtic going nine points clear at the top of the table as it stands with three matches to go.
Could well have been even better for the home side - Jota could have had a second, while Maeda should really have scored too.
Plenty of work for Rangers to do.
43 mins: THIS WOULD HAVE COUNTED!
Maeda has to score. Ball swung in and he’s completely free at the back post. As the ball loops towards him, McGregor comes charging off his line and that maybe puts him off.
Doesn’t really commit to the header and just flicks it wide. Any sort of decent contact and it’s 2-0.
41 mins: HUGE CHANCE!
Or not, offside flag goes up. Maeda played in behind by McGregor, he certainly looks offside but play goes on.
He squares it for Kyogo who blasts it over the bar. And then the flag goes up.
39 mins: Wow. Tavernier decides the previous delivery didn’t have enough height on it so launches it even more into the air.
Again it’s not even vaguely dangerous. Might be time for a rethink.
38 mins: Free-kick Rangers, as Kent wins a cheap foul for his side.
Barisic swings it in, Goldson can’t quite up enough and Celtic flick it away. Comes back into the box, Rangers have their first corner of the match. Tavernier over to take it.
It goes absolutely miles into the air, Goldson wins the initial header but comes to nothing. Back out to Tavenier, he’ll have another go!
36 mins: Ralston and Barisic slide in together... Celtic want a corner, Rangers want a goal-kick.
Rangers get their wish, much to the frustration of those around Celtic Park.
34 mins: Taylor bombs forward on the overlap and it gets played into him.
Whips the cross in, over everyone and out for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch. Maeda would have needed to be ten times as tall to get on the end of that.
31 mins: More good work from Jota to skip away from Tavernier and he can drive into the box.
Tries to cut inside onto his right foot, Tavernier gets back and leans into the Celtic man. Jota wants a penalty, never getting it.
Celtic swiftly back on the attack though, lifted over the top and Jota heads over the bar. Real chance.