Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will keep calm and carry on after Old Firm win

Celtic boss says media had him on ‘death watch’ but pressure now on Gers’ Beale

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers continued his fine Old Firm record with another victory over Rangers

Brendan Rodgers has insisted that he won’t be rattled by intense media pressure after continuing his remarkable Old Firm record as a manager.

The Hoops went into the game on the back of a loss to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup and a home draw to St Johnstone, but despite having some key players missing, the Carnlough man made it 10 wins from 13 derbies.

The 1-0 triumph at Ibrox will swat away minor doubts that were threatening to build around the infancy of the Ulsterman’s second spell at the club while turning up the heat on Gers manager Michael Beale.

Beale wanted his side to “lay down a marker” following Wednesday’s Champions League humiliation in Eindhoven, but he has now just one win from six derbies.

Celtic, whose depleted defence consisted of centre-back pairing Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales making their Old Firm debuts, held their resolve after the interval with the help of Joe Hart to move Rodgers’ men top by two points and four clear of their Glasgow rivals. Kyogo Furuhashi’s late first-half strike gave Rodgers a statement win.

The former Liverpool boss said: “I understand I have been placed on death watch by the media.

“But whatever the result today, I’m an experienced manager now and I’m staying calm.

“But that’s where you are powerless as a coach. For me, I understand what we have, I understand what we are missing.

“Until we get the level of player back that will make a difference in some of our games, we have to keep working and developing and improving, and I have absolutely no doubt we will do that as the season grows.”

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