Scottish Premiership round-up: Celtic throw down gauntlet, Rangers stumble
Celtic blast away Killie
Celtic well and truly threw down the gauntlet on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Premiership season by beating Kilmarnock 4-0.
The Celts are - and are very likely to remain - the team to beat as they aim to retain the title this term.
Goal-scorer Reo Hatate, labelled a "different animal" by manager Brendan Rodgers, was the main man for Celtic, returning to the heights he enjoyed under Ange Postecoglou during his time in Glasgow.
In typical fashion, the Celts stormed to a dominant 3-0 lead after an hour had gone before easing off a touch.
The Killie were spent by that point, though, which was compounded when Anthony Ralston made it 4-0 in time added on.
It may be that Hatate, alongside teammates Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn, could ease fans' concerns with the lack of transfer activity so far this summer.
However, if Matt O’Riley does make a move away from Celtic Park, as rumours suggest he may, Rodgers will need to dip into the market.
Rangers stumble on return
Unlike their city rivals, Rangers didn't get off to a winning start in the opening round of the new campaign.
Drawing with Hearts away from home is far from a bad result, but doing so without seriously threatening their net is less encouraging.
That said, fans inside Tynecastle Park would testify to it being a breathless 90-minute display from both sides.
It could have been worse for the Gers, though, as Hearts' Yan Dhanda smacked the crossbar early in the first half.
It would've been a wonderful goal for the former Liverpool man, but it also would have been quite cruel to Jack Butland. He was especially impressive between the sticks for Rangers.
The Gers built into the game as it went on, but were peppered by Hearts in the opening stages and a lesser goalkeeper could have been breached.
His opposite number, Zander Clark, was also equal to everything thrown at him in what was at times a battle of the goalkeepers.
All that said, the Premiership is a marathon - not a sprint - and this stalemate leaves both sides feeling somewhat optimistic.
Respect in Dundee derby
It's not for everyone, but for some the public display of respect Dundee showed their local rivals Dundee Utd by giving them a guard of honour as they entered the pitch was a nice touch.
The Tangerines stormed back to the top flight by winning the Championship on 75 points last term - six points ahead of Raith and 20 ahead of Partick Thistle in third - with five defeats.
Dundee manager Tony Docherty said "it’s important to show respect to them as our opponents" when asked about the gesture.
But that's where the niceties stopped. Particularly so when the visitors took the lead after just 13 minutes through Kristijan Trapanovski.
Dundee equalised five minutes later via Sebastian Palmer-Houlden, before Miller Thomson nipped United back ahead before the 25th.
The Tangerines would have deserved a derby win, but a late penalty awarded to Dundee was converted by Luke McCowan to settle the draw.
Results and fixtures:
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