Rodgers salutes unbeaten Celtic after Old Firm glory

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt the Old Firm cast Scottish football in a fine light as his side came from behind to beat bitter rivals Rangers 2-1 and move 19 points clear at the top of the table.

Backed by a ferocious din at Ibrox, Rangers began in the ascendancy and took a deserved lead through veteran striker Kenny Miller in the 12th minute.

Highly rated Celtic forward Moussa Dembele crashed emphatically into the top corner to bring Rodgers’ men level after the half hour and the Scottish Premiership leaders made their extra class show during the second period.

A host of chances came and went but Scott Sinclair pounced from close range with 20 minutes remaining to spark delirious scenes among the travelling supporters behind the goal.

“It was a brilliant result for us and a great advert for Scottish football,” Rodgers said at his post-match news conference. “Both sets of players did well considering the conditions.

“In the first half we didn’t start so well but we adjusted a few things at half-time and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win. We’re disappointed to have only scored two goals.

“We stayed very calm being 1-0 down and it was an outstanding second-half performance from us.

“Scott Sinclair was incredible but it was very much a collective win for us.”

Glasgow is Green and White! #SPFL #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/LNDXAMRnc0

— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) December 31, 2016

Celtic also have a game in hand to further bolster their lofty position and Rodgers reflected on a superb unbeaten first-half of the campaign, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle the only team to take points off his team domestically.

“I thanked the players before the game on behalf of myself and the supporters for how they’ve been performing over the past six months,” he added.

“They’ve got themselves on a magnificent path and shown resilience. It’s a huge achievement from them in this opening period.”