Brendan Rodgers picking Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata was baffling

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Celtic extended their lead at the Scottish Premiership, but were certainly given a scare by their Old Firm rivals.

Celtic have every right to be celebrating today after their stunning victory over Rangers at the weekend quashed any talk of a title race in the Scottish Premiership and saw Brendan Rodgers extend his brilliant record over the Hoops’ bitter rivals since his arrival at Parkhead.

The Bhoys showed a remarkable amount of character as they came from behind twice and bagged the winner after they had been reduced to 10 men after Jozo Simunovic was adjudged to have thrown an elbow at Alfredo Morelos.

It was a stunning performance and a stunning game. But Celtic would be foolish to forget that they were given a good scare by Graeme Murty’s men with Josh Windass and Daniel Candeias both scoring and Morelos somehow hitting the post from a couple of yards when the goal was gaping.

And while Rangers’ performance in the early stages cannot be overlooked, they were undoubtedly given reason to believe that they could win by the shocking defending from Dedryck Boyata. And because of that, questions have to be asked of Rodgers’ decision-making.

Boyata was a surprise inclusion in the side ahead of the game. The Belgian had not played since the defeat to Kilmarnock in February, yet was picked to start while Jack Hendry was left on the bench and Marvin Compper was missing from the squad altogether despite featuring at Morton in the Scottish Cup the previous week.

Boyata’s lack of game-time showed in the opening minutes as he lost the ball to Windass before the opening goal. It was an incredible decision to try and play the ball forward when passing back to Scott Bain was the much safer option, and he was punished for the mistake.

And he nearly cost Celtic once again in the second-half as he gifted a chance to Morelos before Bain produced a fine stop to keep the ball out just before Odsonne Edouard scored the Hoops’ winner.

Edouard’s introduction was an inspired move by Rodgers given that they had not long been reduced to 10 men, but his decision to select Boyata was arguably the wrong one, and he should perhaps be feeling slightly fortunate that the rusty centre-back’s mistakes ultimately did not cost the Hoops the game.