Epic scenes as Reo Hatate scores at Ibrox

There were epic scenes at Ibrox as a late goal from Reo Hatate earned Celtic a 2-2 draw.

Super Jack Butland was almost the hero with two saves but summing up his career the former England ace ended up flat out on his back with the ball in the net.

Hatate is the most unconvincing of penalty takers. Few Celtic fans were confident when he became the penalty taker.

As Butland saved his first effort one white jumpered bear directly behind the goal jumped up in celebration.

HATATE SCORES!

Two seconds later his joy was in tatters when Hatate edged out Daizen Maeda to knock the second rebound into the net.

Suddenly the celebrations switched.

Around 2,000 Celtic fans celebrated in their corner of the stadium.

At half-time Celtic’s title hopes were in tatters.

Forty-five minutes later the hoops were level, still in the title race with another generation of would-be Ibrox heroes exposed as myths.

Butland had thought he was the hero with a close range save from a Daizen Maeda header.

Unfortunately for Super Jack he was assisted by the arm of Dujon Sterling.

On VAR Steven McLean couldn’t deny it. John Beaton was called over to the monitor

It was a heart-breaker for the man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill, he tried and tried but there was no way of denying Celtic the penalty they were due.

Only Beaton knows why he didn’t book Sterling.

It took Hatate three attempts to score but he finally found the net.

The scenes were epic.

There was no heroic post match interviews with Butland as he stared another season of failure in the face.

Meanwhile Celtic’s title challenge lingers on.

Next stop is Aberdeen on Wednesday before a return to Ibrox on Sunday.

The white jumpered bear won’t be sitting in that seat. It will be handed over to a Celtic fan.

Around 6,000 more Celtic fans will be at Ibrox for the Scottish Cup tie. The Free Broomloan will be bouncing just like it was in 2018.