League Championship race with a dramatic 2-0 win at
Parkhead this afternoon.
It was, as always, an afternoon of high drama in the
East End of Glasgow - very much a game of two halves,
with Celtic on top in the first-half, Rangers in the
second.
Of the four players expected to make their 'Old Firm'
debuts today, Craig Bellamy lined up for Celtic,
Ronald Waterreus and Sotirios Kyrgiakos for Rangers,
but Stephane Henchoz had to be content with a place on
the bench - Bobo Balde having declared himself fit.
Barry Ferguson, the one remaining survivor from
Rangers' last win at Celtic Park in March 2000, was in
the visitors' starting line-up, an unchanged eleven
from the side that was so impressive against
Hibernian.
Bellamy it was who was first to threaten in four
minutes when he cut inside from an Ulrik Laursen pass
only to see his shot held by Waterreus at the second
attempt.
Ten minutes later the first controversial incident of
the game occurred when John Hartson appeared to foul
Sotirios Kyrgiakos only for Referee Mike McCurry to
wave play on. Hartson released his fellow Welshman
Bellamy only for the advancing Waterreus to produce an
outstanding save, low down to his left.
Celtic were making all the running in the opening
quarter - and carved out an opening in 24 minutes when
a Chris Sutton - Craig Bellamy - Stilian Petrov move
found Hartson whose shot was blocked by Waterreus.
The half ended goalless, and there could be little
doubt that it was the visitors who would be the
happier at the interval.
Rangers were a different proposition as the
second-half unfolded however, with Dado Prso testing
Rab Douglas from a Thomas Buffel pass in 55 minutes.
Waterreus again proved equal to the task midway
through the second-half when Hartson's turn and shot
from an Alan Thompson cross was blocked.
Bellamy again tested the Dutch goalkeeper in 69
minutes with a twenty-yarder from a Thompson pass that
Waterreus held.
Sixty seconds later the opening goal arrived - at the
other end when Gregory Vignal moved onto a Fernando
Ricksen head-flick to send a 25-yard left-foot shot
goalwards. Douglas seemed to have it covered, but
somehow the goalkeeper scooped the ball up and over
into the net.
It was Vignal's first goal for the club, and could not
have arrived at a better time.
Alex Rae replaced Michael Ball three minutes later as
Alex McLeish set out to consolidate his lead.
Douglas held Prso's twenty-yard shot from a Ferguson
pass in 75 minutes as the Ibrox men went all out to
notch a killer second.
Aidan McGeady replaced the injured Jackie McNamara
sixty seconds later.
Rangers went 2-0 up in 81 minutes when a long Ricksen
pass eluded Ulrik Laursen, Nacho Novo coolly chipping
the ball over the advancing Douglas.
Four minutes later it was almost three when Douglas
scrambled Prso's overhead kick from a Novo cross over
the bar.
The second goal had been the signal for the departure
of many Celtic fans, but there was still enough left
to shower Ricksen with missiles as he prepared to take
a corner. Fernando was struck by a coin / cigarette
lighter as the self-styled 'greatest fans in the
world' accepted defeat with their customary good
grace.
The shameful scenes were a throwback to May 1999 when
Referee Hugh Dallas had blood flowing from a head
wound, as again Celtic tasted defeat.
The final whistle brought scenes of unconfined joy
amongst the Light Blue legions. Outstanding for the
visitors had been the two newcomers - Waterreus and
Kyrgiakos who both proved more than equal to the
occasion, and who had more than adequately replaced
Stefan Klos and Jean-Alain Boumsong.
Afterwards a contented Alex McLeish reflected:
"It was a pulsating game. Ronald Waterreus had some
key saves. The back four did well. Gregory Vignal
hasn't hit the target all season. Sotirios Kyrgiakos
was outstanding - he attacks the ball so well in the
air. This campaign will go to the wire."
Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill was honest enough to
admit:
"Rangers played very well in the second-half - much
better than us."
On the Ricksen incident O'Neill commented:
"I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone - it
shouldn't happen to anyone."
'Eck' was diplomatic:
"These things happen - they're not unique to Scotland.
I recall Luis Figo was once hit by a pig's head."
CELTIC Douglas; McNamara (McGeady 76), Balde, Varga,
Laursen; Petrov, Sutton, Lennon, Thompson; Bellamy, Hartson
UNUSED SUBS Marshall, Henchoz, Juninho, Lambert,
Maloney, Wallace
RANGERS Waterreus; Hutton, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Ball
(A. Rae 73); Buffel, Ricksen, Ferguson, Vignal; Prso, Novo
UNUSED SUBS McGregor, Namouchi, Burke, Malcolm,
Thompson, Lovenkrands
REFEREE Mike McCurry
Attendance 59,041