1991-03-24: Celtic 3-0 Rangers, Premier Division

The Guardian (London)
March 25, 1991
Celtic repeat the treatment – Celtic 3-0 Rangers

By PATRICK GLENN

THE crime rate came down while the scoring rate increased, but yesterday's result basically meant the same as last week's: another set-back for Rangers' aspirations towards domination of the Scottish game on all fronts.They had one man, Nisbet, sent off as they struggled to contain a typically lively, thrustingCelticteam whose victory allowed Aberdeen to remain within three points of the Ibrox side at the head of the Premier Division.

They conceded one more goal than in the Scottish Cup tie seven days earlier yet curiously had much more of the game. 'Makeshift' was how Graeme Souness afterwards described the team he fielded, and that was an understatement.

And if his claim to have been 'happy overall with our approach and our play' seems wildly outrageous, it was easy to understand what he meant. If Celticbegan looking the hungrier team they seemed for a lengthy period afterwards to have been sated by that strike from Rogan.It was not surprising to hear Billy McNeill, theCelticmanager, pay tribute to the part played in the second goal by Coyne just eight minutes after the interval. 'There's no doubt we needed that at that time,' he said. 'For a while it had looked as though we would have to rely on the good defensive work we have been doing in the last few games.'

Another fillip for McNeill's men came just four minutes later when Nisbet was ordered off for a deliberate and horrible lunge at McStay. Unlike Dodds, Gough, Coyne, Elliott and McNally, Nisbet was not cautioned. The other five went into the referee's report generally for trifling offences.

From the moment of Nisbet's dismissal, the match became reminiscent of the first half of the cup tie, withCelticthreatening to increase their advantage with each surge towards the beleaguered Gough.

The leaks, however, had begun with Rogan's easy poke over the line from six yards when Woods made a mess of retrieving a menacing situation after Gough had headed Miller's free-kick high into the heart of the defence.

The goalkeeper dropped the ball under pressure from Creaney, and Rogan accepted his first goal against Rangers and his first of the season with undisguised glee.

The Northern Ireland defender also contributed to the second. It was his long ball from the left-back position which allowed Coyne to beat Dodds and drag the ball wide of Woods on the left.

The Celticstriker then trapped the ball on the by-line and recovered to cut it back across goal, finding Miller dashing between Spackman and Gough to knock it in from eight yards.

Rangers were destined not to score, judging by the times they pushed into threatening positions and botched the finish; none more glaringly than Spencer, who allowed Rogan to block the ball on the line by shooting feebly from six yards.

Coyne's 86th-minute goal was the simplest of headers after McStay, theCelticcaptain, had crossed precisely from the right. Celtic, still seeking a Uefa Cup place, now have their sights on Dundee United, who lost 2-1 to Aberdeen at Tannadice on Saturday.

The Independent (London)

March25, 1991, Monday
Football:Rangersare left rueful

By DON LINDSAY

SPORT PAGE; Page 32

Celtic.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Rangers.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

ILL-FORTUNE and indiscipline yesterday leftRangersreflecting over two discarded points which may yet effect the destiny of the Scottish championship. Never able to overcome the enforced departure of Scott Nisbet 13 minutes into the second half,Rangersgradually descended into a despondency which allowed their great rivals to plough on to victory.

For the fourth time in a weekRangershad to endure the loss of a player at a critical stage; at least the number was kept to a sensible level on this occasion after the Ibrox club's three dismissals in last week's 2-0 Scottish Cup defeat at Parkhead. ThreeCelticplayers and anotherRangerhad their names taken.

After another engrossing conflictRangerssaw their lead over Aberdeen at the top of the Premier Division cut to three points. The final match of the season throws the pair together at Ibrox.This was an affair which owed more toRangers'profligacy than the home side's invention.Celtic'ssecond goal was a clear illustration of the way the afternoon progressed. WithRangersin the vanguard the ball fell to John Spencer six yards from theCelticgoal; the shot was well-enough struck but hit Paul Elliott on the goal-line and, from the clearance, Anton Rogan sent Coyne away on a run which culminated in Joe Miller rifling the ball in at the other end.

Omens of calamity appeared as early as the seventh minute when Chris Woods dropped a high ball after it had mis-cued off Gough's head and Rogan tapped in. From that moment until Nisbet's sending-off Rangers battered on Celtic's door but not loudly enough to force it ajar. There was a feeling of inevitability about the third goal five minutes from time, an example of cute construction involving John Collins, Miller and Paul McStay before the latter's cross was driven past Woods by Coyne's head.