Rangers ride their luck

WHEN all the old vituperative clamour had subsided and stock had to be taken of the latest Old Firm encounter, most observers would be left with the realisation that Saturday's Ibrox match contained more appearance than substance.

Even Rangers fans who could peer through the ecstasy and immediate consequences of their team's 2-0 victory - it brought the champions a potentially decisive five-point lead in the Premier Division would be able to see why both teams sit near the bottom of the class in Europe.

The Ibrox side enjoyed the larger portion of luck on the day and, in the event, needed it to overcome opponents who were not only reduced to 10 men by the ordering-off of McKinlay, but were blighted by possibly damaging controversy shortly before the match.

Pierre van Hooijdonk, the towering Dutch striker who has scored more than 50 goals in his 18 months at Celtic - and who has a fine record in Old Firm games - was dropped by the manager, Tommy Burns, amid reports of indiscipline, outrageous financial demands and a climactic shouting match between the two men on Friday.

Van Hooijdonk was told to stay at home, which amounted to a self-inflicted wound by the manager given the unavailability of the club's other prolific finisher, Jorge Cadete, because of injury.

Later, van Hooijdonk claimed that he had been harshly treated by the club and the media and that he wanted to remain with Celtic. "I think I'm man enough to let bygones be bygones," said Burns yesterday, "but Pierre has to learn that you make demands when there is a cupboard full of trophies. I've become very close to him personally in the last 18 months, but he has to learn to live by the rules."

Already diminished by the absence of van Hooijdonk and Cadete, Celtic lost the German midfielder, Thom, with injury after 20 minutes and McKinlay for a second yellow card before the interval. They should have been given the opportunity to lead by then, as the referee denied them a clear penalty when Gouge tripped di Canio.

Even after Gough's bullet of a header had given Rangers the lead. Grant hit the post and the ball ran "along the Rangers goal line and out before Hughes's header thudded off the home team's crossbar just two minutes from the end.

It was then that the ball was played straight upfield and Gascoigne - once again the best player on the field along with Celtic's Stubbs and di Canio - headed Albertz's powerful cross past Marshall.

Rangers, too, had to cope with the absence of Durie and McCoist through injury, and it is in their ability to overcome that kind of adversity that they retain an edge on their old rivals.