SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Celtic 2 Rangers 1:FOR ENTIRELY different reasons it remains to be seen whether or not Neil Lennon and Walter Smith are still in charge of their respective Old Firm teams next season.
Lennon did his case for the Celtic job no harm whatever with this win, his seventh in the league in a row. He needs little reminding that a big factor in his elevation to interim manager is Rangers having successfully defended the Premier League title.
Nonetheless a victory over Smith, such a successful dug-out veteran of this fixture, should not be underplayed. Rangers had Lee McCulloch dismissed in the final minute for his second wild lunge of the evening.
The general atmosphere belied any theory that the word “meaningless” can ever be uttered whenever this pair meet. Even if it was apparent the visiting support were, in their own words, “only here for the party”, the decibel level was noticeably high.
The Rangers following were only tamed in part by a disastrous opening for their team. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor was taken off on a stretcher after landing awkwardly at a corner. The next set-play only compounded their worries.
Lee Naylor was the unlikely scorer, although the full-back’s low free-kick from 30 yards took a deflection on its way past substitute ’keeper Neil Alexander.
The first half then reverted to type. Players crashed and clattered into each other, with even innocuous fouls greeted from the stands with deafening roars. What football did break out was generally played by Celtic, with Aiden McGeady more influential within 45 minutes than he had been in three previous Old Firm derbies.
That Rangers restored parity shortly before the interval was only a slight surprise, given their recent habit of gaining reward despite being outplayed in Old Firm games. Kenny Miller was the scorer, heading home a Steven Whittaker cross at the back post.
Marc-Antoine Fortune promptly showed that the mental fortitude which was so lacking under Tony Mowbray may be the most significant trait Lennon has instilled in his players. Yet again, though, there was a touch of luck about the goal with Alexander clearly culpable from Fortune’s close-range header.
Artur Boruc became the second goalkeeper to be substituted eight minutes after the interval, Miller volleyed wide after the best move of the match, and then hit a post as Rangers sought parity.
That it was not forthcoming was as much down to the belligerence Lennon was famous for during 33 derbies as a Celtic player as anything else. McCulloch merely summed up Rangers’ frustration.
Guardian Service
CELTIC: Boruc (Zaluska 53), Hinkel, Wilson, O'Dea, Naylor (Braafheid 78), McGeady, Brown, N'Guemo, Kamara, Keane, Fortune (Samaras 74). Subs not used: Crosas, Ki, Rasmussen, Thompson. Booked: Kamara, Brown, Hinkel, O'Dea.
RANGERS: McGregor (Alexander 5), Whittaker, Weir, McCulloch, Smith, Davis, Edu, Thomson, Naismith, Lafferty (Novo 77), Miller. Subs not used: Boyd, Broadfoot, Fleck, Little, Stirling. Booked: Thomson, McCulloch, Naismith, Miller.
Referee: C Murray(Scotland).
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