Rangers 2-0 Celtic

Last updated : 20 November 2004 By Kevin Smith
Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton were both sent off, as Celtic went down 2-0 to Rangers at Ibrox. Celts are still top of the SPL, but by only one point. Today's game will be remembered for anything but the football on the park. Old Firm games are known for their fiery incidents and bad tempered moments but today, there seemed to be a little more.

Rangers played a large part of the game against nine men and only conjured up one chance. Imagine if Celtic had played against a nine-men Rangers side, we'd be looking at a cricket score. If this is the best that they can come up with I am not worrying. They have beaten us twice in ten days but to suggest that Rangers are the dominant force in Scotland is utter nonsense.

How can the balance of power be shifted if Celtic are still at the top of the league?

Hedman started the game instead of Marshall, and there was no place in the starting line-up for Aiden McGeady or Juninho. Stan Petrov made it but was clearly unfit. Didier Agathe missed out through injury.

Rangers' game-plan was clear from the start - dive and make a meal of every time a Celtic player comes near you. It was embarrassing.

Celtic started the game well, going at Rangers, and for the first fifteen minutes of the game we looked very comfortable. We were clearly the better side and if we had kept out discipline we would have had no problems.

Joos Valgaeren has surely played his last game for Celtic. The guy is a joke. Yes, he has been played out of position but he has not got a clue wherever you play him. His dribbling and passing are terrible and he is a complete liability. Valgaeren commited a crazy foul on Nacho Novo inside the Celtic box on thirteen minutes, and Rangers took the lead from the penalty spot, against the run of play.

Bobo Balde should also take a look at the part he played in the penalty award. The ball was going back to Magnus Hedman and he felt the need to header it straight out to the edge of the area, where Valgaeren commited the foul. Shocking.

Celtic picked themselves up and went for the equaliser but to no avail. We were making the likes of Marvin Andrews look good.

Rangers got a second on 39 minutes, when Dado Prso was given too much space in the Celtic box and headed home from a free kick. The free kick was given when Chris Sutton fouled Alex Rae, Sutton was yellow carded.

Magnus Hedman's positioning looked suspect at the goal, but what were the defence playing at? They went to sleep for a moment and were subsequently punished.

Our hopes of taking anything from the game looked in tatters when Alan Thompson was sent off close to half time. The little weasel Peter Lovenkrands fouled Jackie McNamara, and as Thompson emerged to take the free kick, he stupidly got involved in the situation. Thompson stuck his head towards Lovenkrands and there was minimal contact made, yet Lovenkrands proceeded to roll around on the ground for several minutes, as if he had been shot.

Thompson was red carded, a decision which Celtic must appeal against. Lovenkrands is a disgrace to football and if I were a Rangers supporter, I would feel ashamed to have him in my team.

The match erupted again moments later when Henri Camara reacted to a slap by Alex Rae by raising his hands, to receive a yellow card. Camara then blatantly kicked Rangers' Vignal, and should have been sent off.

Unbelievably, there was only one minute of additional time added on, even though the Thompson incident took up at least three minutes.

At half time we were treated to music from various war films and a weird Rangers song which sounded like The Proclaimers. Lovenkrands failed to appear for the second half, and Henri Camara (non-existent again), was replaced by Stephen Pearson.

It was always going to be a struggle, and any hopes we had of getting anything from the game were banished when Chris Sutton got himself sent off. While chasing down a ball close to the Rangers goal, he deliberatley handled the ball twice and basically lost the place all together. It was as if he wanted to get sent off and it was a case of damage limitation from then on.

Despite being two goals and two men down, the Celtic support were still in full voice, reminding the huns that they are still second in the league.

Celtic tried to stage what would have been a remarkable comeback, but a Stan Petrov shot was the closest we came. Petrov was replaced by Aiden McGeady, who should have started the game.

Rangers produced a couple of chances, which Hedman done well to stop. They were playing against nine men and two goals up, yet never posed a great threat to us. Laughable.

Nacho Novo was up to no good once again and lashed out on two occasions during the game, once deliberatley standing on Stephen Pearson.  Hopefully his chums at the SFA will get out their VCR's and take action. 

At the end of the game, the Celtic team applauded the Celtic end, who have spent £58 in ten days for two recent trips to Ibrox. Martin O'Neill wrapped his arms around Neil Lennon, and the pair definantly saluted the Broomloan Stand. It was an emotional moment for all to see, and the other three stands appeared to be foaming at the mouth with anger! Great stuff.

We left Ibrox with our heads raised high. Rangers are not a good side, and we played badly today. We need to sort out the problems we have because our football has been of a low standard all season. Thompson and Sutton both let us down badly and if they hadn't it would have been a different story. I know it, you know it, we all know it.

We will march on to Barcelona still top of the SPL, still the SPL Champions and still in with a chance of a UEFA Cup spot.

Once again, for anyone who is feeling slightly smug tonight, remember these five words...

WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED!

Celtic:
Hedman, Valgaeren, Balde, McNamara, Varga, Petrov (McGeady), Lennon, Thompson, Sutton, Camara (Pearson), Hartson

Come On The Hoops Man Of The Match: Neil Lennon

Come On The Hoops Moment To Remember: Martin O'Neill and Neil Lennon at the end of the game.

Come On The Hoops Moment To Forget: Thompson and Sutton letting Celtic down.

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