Rangers 1 - 0 Celtic: Late winner puts SPL title within Rangers' grasp

Published on Sunday 28 February 2010 23:01

THE last snowflakes of a long winter may yet have to fall but Rangers and their supporters can already start planning for a title winning party in the spring sunshine.

Even before Maurice Edu brought a gruelling Old Firm battle to a dramatic conclusion, there was an air of satisfaction around three sides of Ibrox yesterday as the match rumbled towards a seemingly inevitable goalless draw which would have preserved the champions' already commanding seven point lead at the top of the SPL.

When the American international midfielder stabbed the ball home from close range in the third and final minute of stoppage time, the mood among the home fans turned to one of raucous celebration at a victory which extends Rangers' advantage to 10 points. They also have a game in hand on their great rivals, not to mention a significantly superior goal difference.

This was another dispiriting afternoon for Tony Mowbray whose approval rating among Celtic supporters will inevitably diminish with every setback of this kind. While his team were not helped by the contentious dismissal of captain Scott Brown with 24 minutes remaining following an off the ball clash with Kyle Lafferty, Rangers had already seized the initiative in an absorbing if less than blood-stirring contest by that stage.

Referee Dougie McDonald may reflect on his decision to issue a straight red card to Brown and conclude that a caution may have been more appropriate, although the midfielder was less than wise to shove his head into Lafferty's chest. The tussle was petulant rather than malicious. Brown, however, had been anything but an inspiring influence on his team.

While Celtic had the edge in the first half in terms of both cohesive possession and carrying a threat in and around the opposition penalty area, they were never able to place Rangers under the kind of sustained pressure required to achieve the victory they desperately needed to raise hopes they could mount a fightback in the championship race.

Rangers were similarly lacking in a cutting edge for most of a second half in which they were generally the team in the ascendancy. Neither side could have protested that a draw was an unfair outcome but it should perhaps have come as no surprise Walter Smith's men found a way to snatch victory. It is a knack they have turned into something of an art form under the veteran manager whose 26th Old Firm victory equals the number achieved by the legendary figures of Jock Stein and Scot Symon in this fixture.

It was regrettable that the fixture was marred by disruption to the minute's silence held as a mark of respect for former Rangers goalkeeper Gerry Neef. Abusive shouts resounded around the stadium, and attempts to drown out the disruption only further diminished the poignancy of the moment.

When the game started, Smith's greatest period of anxiety was in the opening 30 seconds when Sasa Papac's laid back temperament was most certainly inappropriate as he attempted a back-heeled clearance on the edge of his own penalty area. He simply played the ball straight to Marc-Antoine Fortune whose low cutback presented Robbie Keane with a clear sight of goal.

The Republic of Ireland captain, who had won a fitness battle to make his Old Firm debut, failed to connect as sweetly as he would have hoped and his low right foot shot was held by Allan McGregor low to the goalkeeper's right. It would be no dream introduction to this fixture for the player in whom so much hope was invested by Celtic fans who acclaimed his signing on loan from Tottenham at the start of February.

Keane often cut a brooding figure, his complaints to referee McDonald for greater protection borne of frustration. Kevin Thomson, with one of his most effective performances yet in a Rangers shirt, typified the determination of the home side to minimise Keane's influence.

The midfielder robbed Keane with a terrific tackle after three minutes, sparking the move which led to Rangers' first opening. Steven Davis picked out Kris Boyd with a fine pass, allowing the striker a clear run into the Celtic penalty area. While Boyd managed to take the ball around Artur Boruc, his first touch was a little heavy and forced an angle from which he could only drive the ball into the side net.

Both teams were forced into early first half changes, Edu replacing the injured Lee McCulloch for Rangers before Celtic defender Thomas Rogne, who had started impressively, pulled a hamstring and made way for Darren O'Dea.

It was attritional fare for long spells, punctuated by the occasional flash of incisive football. Kenny Miller might have done better than drive a shot straight at Boruc after Boyd's terrific pass sent him clear, while McGregor reacted smartly to keep out a stinging Keane volley.

Fortune had the chance to grab the lead for Celtic before half-time, dragging a low right foot shot wide, as it became increasingly clear this was a match where the first goal was likely to be the winner.

Boruc made a double save to deny Davis as Rangers raised their intensity level after the break and the momentum swung in their favour with Brown's dismissal.

Edu, who had found the net with his first touch after coming on but saw it disallowed for a foul by Miller on Edson Braafheid, looked to have wasted Rangers' best chance of victory with seven minutes remaining when he blazed over.

But he was the man who mattered in the incredible final act. Boruc dived to his right to keep out a Papac cross at the expense of a corner which Thomson curled in from the left. Celtic were unable to clear and after Bougherra and Boyd both saw efforts blocked by Boruc, the ball broke to Edu for a simple but hugely significant tap-in.

More on yesterday's Old Firm match:

Celtic fury over Scott Brown's dismissal

Match Report: Rangers 1 - 0 Celtic

Walter Smith slates Celtic protest on referee standards

Alan Pattullo: Dougie McDonald fuels Celtic's pre-match disquiet with contentious red card for Scott Brown