Chris Sutton praises brilliant Ryan Kent as he admits Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou’s private disappointment
Ange Postecoglou will privately feel “pretty disappointed” with Celtic’s performance as they escaped with a point against Rangers, says Chris Sutton.
The former Hoops forward was surprisingly magnanimous about the Old Firm derby on Monday (2 January), as a late Kyogo equaliser was required for the league-leaders to maintain the gap at the top of the table.
Ryan Kent’s “tremendously well” taken goal had cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s opener, before James Tavernier scored an unstoppable penalty won by Fashion Sakala, and Sutton was impressed by the English winger while admitting his former side got away without more damage.
Asked by host Mark Chapman on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club (2 January, 41min) if Celtic were lucky he said: “I think they were.
“Celtic wanted half time, needed half time, Rangers didn’t. They came out of the traps in the second half and got themselves deservedly in front.
“I think privately Ange Postecoglou will be pretty disappointed with that performance. From Michael Beale’s point of view I think he comes out of this game with great credit really.
“Going into the game most neutral observers would say Celtic were by far the better team but I think Rangers fans watching that game, albeit it was at Ibrox, you take heart albeit they only came out of the game with a point.”
He went on to say: “Ryan Kent, I thought his goal was brilliant. He’s such a frustrating player because his numbers, his goals and assists, aren’t very good really for a player of his talent but I thought he took his goal tremendously well.
“I thought Rangers [in the] second half were really, really comfortable.”
Growth
A draw is never cause for real celebration in the Glasgow derby, but given the turmoil that this Gers side is trying to build its way out of it is certainly movement in the right direction.
Beale’s side were on top for the majority of the match, and had enough chances to put the game to bed across the 90 minutes, which is a big step up from a 4-0 reverse in the previous meeting.
Credit to Sutton that he praised the Ibrox boss for how things went, even if he is focusing in on the penalty shout against Connor Goldson as much as anyone.
The result may leave a title charge out of reach but in terms of reminding Postecoglou and his players that they won’t have everything their own way from now on Beale got the job done.
It’s a start and there is plenty of work still to do but the performance was encouraging, and if the manager is still to be backed in the transfer market there is enough from his opening five games in charge to suggest that he can turn this ship around.
In other Rangers news, John Hartson is outraged at the reaction to a controversial incident in the game.