EXHAUSTED RANGERS GO DOWN TO OWN GOAL
Rangers slumped to their first defeat of the season at
Ibrox today, going down to the only goal of the game
against Celtic, a result that costs the Champions the
League leadership.
Ibrox today, going down to the only goal of the game
against Celtic, a result that costs the Champions the
League leadership.
It was in truth an insipid display from the exhausted
home side, lacking in directness and drive against an
opposition that, despite lacking three central
defenders, remained solid throughout.
home side, lacking in directness and drive against an
opposition that, despite lacking three central
defenders, remained solid throughout.
Today’s result means that Rangers have now won just
one game out of the last eleven League fixtures
against their greatest rivals, a sequence that is
totally unacceptable to the Ibrox legions.
Manager Alex McLeish fielded the same side that had
played so well for so long in Athens, and, despite
having arrived back in Glasgow just fifty-five hours
earlier, it was the Light Blues who made the brighter
start, maintaining possession in the opening
exchanges.
The first threat to either goal came from Celtic
however when Alan Thompson’s drive from a Henrik
Larsson cross was blocked by Stefan Klos.
Emerson was involved in every home attack – in
eighteen minutes he played a one-two with Michael Mols
before seeing his shot deflected over the bar.
eighteen minutes he played a one-two with Michael Mols
before seeing his shot deflected over the bar.
Celtic were obliged to replace the injured Thompson in
23 minutes, being substituted by Michael Gray.
Two minutes later Jackie McNamara was fortunate to
escape a yellow card when he blatantly dived following
a Michael Ball challenge.
As the half progressed Celtic were beginning to impose
themselves on a strangely lacklustre Rangers – and
almost took advantage of poor marking in the Ibrox
defence when Stilian Petrov, in acres of space,
crossed for the unmarked John Hartson whose volley was
turned aside by Klos in 41 minutes.
Sixty seconds later quick thinking by Mikel Arteta at
a free-kick almost broke the deadlock when he squared
the ball to Peter Lovenkrands whose low left-foot
drive was deflected wide.
Goalless at the interval, there was a growing unease
amongst the home support at the way the game was
developing, and so it proved within eighteen seconds
of the restart when John Hartson beat Zurab
Khizanishvili to a long high ball, his knockdown
finding Larsson who found the Welshman with a quick
pass. Hartson attempted to play a return pass only to
see his effort strike Khizanishvili and take a wicked
deflection into the net.
Rangers had already lost Craig Moore to a hamstring
injury at half-time, Maurice Ross being introduced
with Zurab Khizanishvili moving into central defence.
Clearly the changes had produced an unsettling effect
that may well have led to the loss of the goal.
Five minutes later Egil Ostenstad replaced the
ineffective Nuno Capucho but Rangers were now
struggling to make any kind of an impact on the game.
Celtic looked the likelier to extend their lead – Liam
Miller got clear on the right in 73 minutes only to
see his fierce drive beaten out by Stefan Klos and
hooked clear by Henning Berg.
Miller got clear on the right in 73 minutes only to
see his fierce drive beaten out by Stefan Klos and
hooked clear by Henning Berg.
Four minutes later Larsson released Petrov who was
forced wide and out of the danger area by Klos.
Rangers had scarcely tested the makeshift Celtic
defence all afternoon, although a dipping Maurice Ross
cross in 78 minutes almost caught Hedman by surprise,
landing n the roof of the net.
defence all afternoon, although a dipping Maurice Ross
cross in 78 minutes almost caught Hedman by surprise,
landing n the roof of the net.
With the seconds ticking away Ibrox salvation almost
arrived from the unlikeliest of source in 89 minutes
when Stanislav Varga’s backward header only just
cleared the crossbar.
The final whistle soon afterwards brought down the
curtain on as poor a Rangers performance as has been
seen in many a long day. The only possible explanation
being the fatigue and exhaustion of the trip to
Athens.
curtain on as poor a Rangers performance as has been
seen in many a long day. The only possible explanation
being the fatigue and exhaustion of the trip to
Athens.
Manager Alex McLeish afterwards said:
“Territorially we had a lot of the ball without a
cutting edge. Celtic worked hard, but had a touch of
luck with their goal and at the end. Nevertheless they
had the better chances, worked hard, and had five at
the back with plenty of bodies behind the ball. We
were too technical, too methodical, didn’t have enough
shots at goal. There’s a long season ahead – remember
we were written off last year.”
cutting edge. Celtic worked hard, but had a touch of
luck with their goal and at the end. Nevertheless they
had the better chances, worked hard, and had five at
the back with plenty of bodies behind the ball. We
were too technical, too methodical, didn’t have enough
shots at goal. There’s a long season ahead – remember
we were written off last year.”
Nonetheless the blatant and unpalatable truth is that
today’s performance and result is simply not good
enough for the Rangers support.
RANGERS Klos; Khizanishvili, Berg, Moore (Ross 45),
Ball; Capucho (Ostenstad 51), Arteta, Emerson,
Lovenkrands; Arveladze, Mols
UNUSED SUBS McGregor, Nerlinger, Hughes
CELTIC Hedman; Sutton, McNamara, Varga; Agathe,
Miller, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson (Gray 23); Hartson,
Larsson
UNUSED SUBS Douglas, Sylla, Maloney, Kennedy
REFEREE Mike McCurry