Celtic’s draw at Ibrox keeps Brendan Rodgers’ side at the top of the Scottish Premiership, albeit our Glasgow rivals have a game in hand.
In a blistering first-half performance, Brendan Rodgers‘ side took a commanding 2-0 lead as they proved just how much they were up for the battle.
Celtic snuffed out the Rangers midfield and nullified the threat of James Tavernier on the left-hand side in the first 45 minutes had former Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, beaming with pride.
The Celtic legend admitted that he was ‘beaming like a Cheshire cat’ after watching his old team put in one of the best performances he has seen at Ibrox in the first half and hailed Daizen Maeda for his role in that.
Daizen Maeda had the beating of James Tavernier
The Japanese winger was named this week by Chris Sutton as a player who could make a difference to this game. And whilst he couldn’t quite get Celtic over the line in terms of a win, Lennon admits that he got inside Rangers captain, James Tavernier‘s head.
Speaking about Celtic’s opening goal, Lennon said [Sky Sports], “This is one of the best performances I’ve seen from a Celtic team and at Ibrox in years.
“They get a bit of fortune but it’s a great press. But Joe’s just taken this long and Tavernier has totally switched off.
“And let’s get it right, Maeda’s in his head and he has been all first half.
“And it’s a freak goal but it’s all on Rangers. Tavernier’s in the right position, but he reacts to it late, he switches off.
“I think he’s waiting on Butland coming and he [Maeda] maybe gets a bit of good fortune in the goal.
“But from then on it’s been an annihilation. Celtic have been absolutely brilliant.
“I’m not even gonna talk about how bad Rangers are, I’ll leave that to Chris, but Celtic have been magnificent, take nothing away from them.”
Maeda has been a constant thorn in Tavernier’s side ever since he signed for Celtic. His role in beating the Ibrox club over the past three seasons cannot be understated.
Daizen Maeda torments Rangers
In 13 appearances against Rangers, Maeda has been on the winning side eight times, has drawn three and has lost just two. [Transfermarkt]
Maeda has also found the back of the net twice and created three goals as the Japanese winger continues to torment the Ibrox side.
But for Tavernier, he must now be having nightmares about Maeda. His first-half performance against the Rangers captain was just superb as his constant pressing, pace and work rate helped Rodgers take a crucial point away from Govan.
And had it not been for VAR, it could well have been all three.
A lot can and has been said about the deficiencies in Maeda’s game but, for me, what he does off the ball, like he did today, has proven time and again just how crucial he is at helping deliver success at Celtic and at taking points from our closest rivals whenever it matters most.