Celtic served up some ugly football but it was BEAUTIFUL and wait till Brendan’s silky stuff comes – Chris Sutton

Brendan Rodgers lapped up his latest Old Firm win. No wonder. It was a huge moment for him in his second spell. Rodgers is able to sit back now in the international break with any potential heat staved well off and replaced by a warm glow of satisfaction.

The Celtic manager walked away from Ibrox knowing his team is going to get even stronger with big stars set to return and new signings to be integrated. Rodgers was able to make quips about being on death watch and such like with the victory safely in his pocket. Amusing or not, this was a serious business for Rodgers going into the game. His team had not gelled properly in the opening weeks of the season and there were supporters not entirely pleased with the final recruitment before the window closed.

It needed both sides of the game at Ibrox. Celtic played very well in the first half, but could also then dig in and fight in the second and this is where the big difference still seems to lie between the champions and Rangers. In a big, big game, Celtic adjust and find a way with all contributing. Callum McGregor and Joe Hart are leaders in the dressing room and were leaders on the park. Two outstanding performances and, in terms of the keeper, an emphatic response to those who wanted him replaced. Liam Scales was superb. The fact he kept things so simple impressed me.

I remember Martin O’Neill telling me on the morning of an Old Firm game I’d be playing centre-half and thought, ‘Oh my God’. The message I gave myself was to keep it simple. Do the basics. Scales did just that and hats off to him. No one gave him a chance of performing at that level in that fixture and he did it. Rodgers wants silky football and has no doubt it will come but, in some respects, the manner