Sky Sports forced to apologise as Celtic star gives X-rated interview after Rangers win | Football | Sport

Sky Sports were forced to apologise after Celtic ace Matt O’Riley swore live on air following the Old Firm clash against Rangers. Celtic held on against 10 men to secure a narrow 2-1 win and move one step closer to the Scottish Premiership title.

It proved a defining day in the Scottish Premiership title race, with Celtic moving six points clear of second-place Rangers in the table. Things could’ve been much more comfortable for Celtic, as midfield maestro O’Riley missed a second-half penalty that would’ve put the hosts 3-1 ahead.

Reflecting on his missed spot-kick post-match, O’Riley said: “Not much else to say. I think we made it a little bit hard for ourselves again. I probably helped with that with a pretty s**t penalty.”

The interviewer was quick to apologise for O’Riley’s slip of the tongue, following the 23-year-old’s blunt, but brutally honest response.

O’Riley – who had never missed a penalty in his professional career – continued by saying: “We’re six points clear. We started the game well and had a few chances. I practiced penalties yesterday and I was probably in two minds about it.”

It threatened to sour what had looked like being a wonderful afternoon for O’Riley, with the ex-MK Dons starlet having netted earlier in the match. Picking the ball up on the edge of the box, O’Riley took aim and squeezed a left-footed strike past Rangers shot-stopper Jack Butland.

A John Lundstram own-goal doubled Celtic’s lead moments later, before Cyriel Dessers reduced the deficit. Lundstram’s day got even worse before half-time when he was sent off, but it didn’t deter the chasers, who continued to push for an equaliser.

However, the reigning champions were able to hold out for the win, with manager Brendan Rodgers praising his side’s resilience. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “It’s [the result] very significant, we’re nearly there now. The three points and another goal to the goal difference is really good.

“I thought right up until the penalty we were really good. The start to the game, the energy, the football, the speed was outstanding. We get two goals in front, we switch off, we lose our concentration and they get back into the tie. So it’s a poor goal [to concede] from our perspective.”

With just two games remaining of the Scottish Premiership season, Celtic could be confirmed as champions as early as Wednesday night. The 53-time Scottish champions need just one more point to be confirmed as the league winners, with Kilmarnock and St. Mirren to come for Rodgers’ side.