Jota made his long-awaited return to action as Celtic claimed a much-needed 2-0 victory at Motherwell to move top of the Premiership again and ease the sense of gloom and tension that had engulfed the club during the international break.
Five months on from a dramatic late win that helped them on their way to last season’s title, Martin O’Neill’s side enjoyed another big result at Fir Park to end a three-game losing streak and climb back ahead of Rangers, who had leapfrogged them at the summit on Saturday.
After a renewal of hostilities between supporters and the Celtic board as well as uncertainty about O’Neill’s future as manager during the three-week break since their home defeat by their bitter rivals, an early strike from Camilo Durán helped restore a semblance of calm for the Hoops.
The champions had control of proceedings thereafter and – despite an inspired display from the home goalkeeper Alex Paulsen – Celtic added to their lead through Benjamin Nygren in the 58th minute as they made it seven wins in eight league matches this term.
The huge Hoops support sporadically unfurled banners and chanted against the club’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond, who was the subject of a tennis-ball protest by a group of balaclava-clad supporters at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews last weekend. Long before the end of a largely one-sided encounter, however, it was Motherwell’s fans who were displaying their frustration by making for the exits as their insipid side slid to a fourth consecutive defeat.
“If we’d been beaten today, of course, that would have been four on the trot, so that doesn’t help any manager,” said O’Neill. “But we didn’t. For us to get on track again domestically was delightful.”
Derek McInnes praised his Rangers players and blamed the extended international break for some disjointed play in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock.
Rangers went into the break three up at Ibrox after Ryan Naderi twice headed home either side of a Kevin Kelsy strike. But Killie had chances throughout, especially after the interval, before finally getting their reward when the substitute Nicky Clescenco struck on a last-minute counterattack. The visitors ended the game with six efforts on target to Rangers’ four, but the home goalkeeper, Ivor Pandur, was seriously troubled only once before being beaten.
“I was really pleased with how clinical we were in the first half,” said McInnes. “We put the ball in the box, we scored goals. We just didn’t do it enough for whatever reason. But we have to be honest, for long spells we looked like a team that hadn’t been together for the last three weeks. There’s a bit of understanding for me where the players have been. Whoever came up with this idea, it’s such a long time for your players to be away. We pay their wages, we look after our players and for them to be away for nearly three weeks is too long. But we’ve got the job done and credit the players for digging deep and getting three points.”
Hearts eased to their biggest home win in the league for three-and-a-half years as they dismantled St Mirren 5-0 to remain on the coattails of Rangers and Celtic.
Third-placed Hearts dominated from the start and Laurent Mendy fired them ahead in the 20th minute. Calvin Miller scored two penalties, either side of half-time, before goals from Cláudio Braga and Josh McPake ensured a smooth afternoon for Hearts.
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It was Hearts’ biggest league win at Tynecastle since they defeated Ross County 6-1 under Steven Naismith in April 2023 and they are now comfortably the top scorers in the league. Hearts’ manager, Wouter Vrancken, said: “We try to play a kind of football that is positive and constructive and proactive, and not a reaction. I think people come to the stadium to see nice football, to see goals from your side.”
Josh Fowler’s first-half penalty earned St Johnstone a 1-0 win over Aberdeen putting them into the top five. Fowler’s spot-kick, awarded against Jack Milne after a lengthy video assistant referee check, proved the only goal of the game as the Dons huffed and puffed to no avail in front of goal.
Ashley Hay scrambled in a stoppage-time winner to secure Dundee a 2-1 victory at Falkirk. The striker, out since early August with a ligament sprain, converted from close range after latching on to Ethan Hamilton’s free-kick in the first minute of added time. His goal completed the turnaround after Owen Bevan’s second goal for the Dark Blues had cancelled out Jacob Murrell’s first-half penalty at Falkirk Stadium.
Marink Reedijk endured a disappointing first game as Hibernian’s manager as his side suffered a 1-0 defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice. The hosts scored in the first half through winger Daniel Bennie, on loan from QPR, and the visitors finished the game with 10 men after Jacob Devaney was sent off.
