Kilmarnock once again proved a thorn in Celtic’s side as David Watson headed a stoppage-time equaliser at Parkhead to deal a major blow to the hosts’ title hopes.
A first-half header from Kyogo Furuhashi looked like being just enough to send Celtic three points ahead of Rangers in the Premiership title race. But Watson headed home from fellow substitute Fraser Murray’s cross after Alexandro Bernabei had misjudged the flight of the ball.
The draw gives Rangers the chance to move two points clear at the top of the table when they face St Johnstone in Perth on Sunday, having already clawed back a seven-point deficit since Philippe Clement took over eight games into the season.
Kilmarnock had already beaten their hosts twice at Rugby Park this season – once in the Viaplay Cup – and their late equaliser came from one of 12 attempts at goal.
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Joe Hart twice saved well from Liam Donnelly and the Kilmarnock manager, Derek McInnes, was frustrated his side did not get a penalty for Stephen Welsh’s sliding challenge on Marley Watkins.
Neither the referee, John Beaton, nor the video assistant, Willie Collum, were convinced by Watkins’ appeals but it looked a risky challenge.
The home crowd grew audibly more anxious as the game wore on and Watson missed from close range before getting space at the back post to head into the bottom corner.
Celtic threw players forward but it was the visitors who came closer to a last-gasp winner when Murray broke and fired in a low shot which Hart got down to save.
Rangers cancel Celtic tickets for women’s Old Firm clash
Rangers have cancelled all tickets bought by Celtic fans for their table-topping Scottish Women’s Premier League clash on Sunday at Ibrox due to the risk of trouble in the unsegregated supporters’ stands, the club said on Saturday.
Rangers said they had received intelligence that suggested “groups of ‘risk’ supporters in a significant number” had bought tickets for the match. Rangers called an urgent operational meeting between both clubs and Police Scotland, with Police Scotland indicating they would need to deploy a sizeable resource at short notice as opposed to it initially being a police-free fixture,” the club said.
Celtic called the decision “hugely disappointing”. They said in a statement: “At a time when so many are working so hard to promote and support the women’s game in Scotland, the decision to deny access to so many fans is hugely disappointing, even more so given that there were a number of options available to the home club to allow our fans to safely attend in a stadium of such capacity and given the expected crowd.”
Rangers are top of the SWPL, four points above second-placed Celtic with champions Glasgow City a further two points adrift.
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