| Match Pictures | Matches: 2001 – 2002 | 2001-02 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic go ten points in front of Rangers.
- Six wins out of seven for Martin O'Neill v Rangers.
- Five wins in a row v Rangers.
- Probably the result that was ultimately led to the end of Advocaat's spendthrift and profligate reign at Rangers. He resigned a few weeks later. That was the end of the line for 'The little General' or as he was known in some quarters 'The little Genital.'
Review
Teams
Celtic:
Douglas, Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren, Petrov, Lennon, Lambert, Moravcik (Maloney 56), Petta, Hartson (McNamara 70), Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Gould, Thompson, Crainey.
Goals: Valgaeren 58, Larsson 70 pen.
Booked: Moravcik, Hartson.
Rangers:
Klos, Ross (Dodds 81), Amoruso, Konterman, Ball (Lovenkrands 73), Reyna, de Boer, Ferguson, Numan, Flo, Arveladze (Caniggia 64).
Subs Not Used: Christiansen, Wilson.
Goals: Lovenkrands 77.
Booked: Ball, Ferguson, Konterman.
Att: 59,609
Ref: S. Dougal
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
Celtic took a giant step to retaining the Scottish Premier League championship after going 10 points clear of their Old Firm rivals – but Michael Ball has stepped into big trouble after an astonishing bust-up with Rangers manager Dick Advocaat. Joos Valgaeren and Henrik Larsson put Celtic on their way to victory and a commanding lead over their biggest title threat before substitute Peter Lovenkrands' consolation for the visitors. But Rangers boss Advocaat would have been seething after £6.5million signing Ball's amazing reaction to being taken off, getting involved in an angry exchange with the Dutchman as he walked off.
That incident, however, would not have bothered an overjoyed Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, who can rest easy in the comfort of a massive cushion at the top of the SPL. But goalkeeper Robert Douglas, who was so impressive in midweek UEFA Cup tie in Spain, was called into action after just three minutes to prevent Rangers from taking an early lead. Claudio Reyna's cross was flicked on by Ronald de Boer and Maurice Ross, in for the dropped Fernado Ricksen, hit a fierce right-foot volley which the Scotland man had to push past the upright. The visitors seemed to settle more quickly than the champions and Rangers had plenty of possession in the opening exchanges. But Ball, in his first Old Firm derby, went into the book in the ninth minute for a rash challenge on Henrik Larsson, but Rangers were able to clear Bobby Petta's dangerous free-kick. Celtic were again under pressure in the 11th minute as Johan Mjallby got left for dead by the turn of Shota Arveladze, but Tore Andre Flo was unable to direct his header on target. Moments later Stefan Klos needed to be alert to save Larsson's long-range effort before Lubo Moravcik joined Ball in referee Stuart Dougals book for a silly tackle on Arveladze.
John Hartson, who again took over from Chris Sutton, was also booked in the 17th minute, but the Welshman was unfortunate as he appeared to have touched the ball in the sliding challenge on Ball. Rangers looked the more threatening side in attack and Celtic breathed a sigh of relief in the 18th minute as Arveladze flicked on Reyna's corner, but Mjallby cleared the danger. The visitors continued to press forward and came within inches of taking the lead on 20 minutes. Arveladze threaded the ball through to Flo, who hit a crisp left-foot shot which beat the outstretched hand of Douglas, but came back off the upright. Celtic were being restricted to long-range efforts and two minutes later Klos comfortably saved Moravcik's ambitious effort.
The home side remained patient and they created a good chance on the half hour when Larsson squared the ball into the path of Stilian Petrov from Moravcik's pass, but the Bulgarian fired wide. However, Celtic would have found themselves a goal down two minutes later, but for Douglas. Arthur Numan spotted the run of de Boer and found him in the box, but the Celtic keeper was quick off his line to save the Dutchman's shot with his outstretched arm. Moments later and the former Dundee man saved weak efforts from Barry Ferguson and Flo before Lorenzo Amoruso blasted a right-foot free-kick well wide of the post. Celtic defender Bobo Balde was then fortunate not to get punished just before the break after appearing to raise his hands to Arveladze in an off-the-ball incident. Amoruso was then lucky not get booked after a cynical foul on Larsson.
Celtic started the second period much better and Bert Konterman was fortunate not to be booked for a reckless foul on Larsson. And the home side almost made the breakthrough in the 50th minute when Moravcik's corner came to Balde on the edge of the six-yard box, but he flicked his shot just past the post. Larsson then left Konterman for dead again, but he seemed to get caught in two minds and his centre flew across the face of goal evading both Moravcik and Petrov. Celtic boss O'Neill decided to introduce the fresh legs of striker Shaun Maloney for veteran Moravcik in the 56th minute and the youngster caused Rangers problems straight away. Just two minutes later the home side sparked wild celebrations among their fans when they took the lead. Balde headed Petrov's cross back across the face of goal and Valgaeren slid in to fire past Klos from close range.
Advocaat made a strange substitution in the 64th minute when he took off the dangerous Arveladze and brought on Argentinian Claudio Caniggia. But the Rangers manager's hopes of fighting back to get a result were shattered in the 69th minute. Larsson went down in the box under the clumsy challenge of Konterman and after Ferguson earned a yellow card for his protests, the Swede stepped up himself to cooly leave Klos rooted to the spot. Rangers' summer signing Ball lost the plot in the 74th minute when he was replaced by Lovenkrands and seemed to take his frustration out on manager Advocaat as he left the field.
Referee Dougal also lost his composure and showed Konterman a yellow card and then red before being informed by Amoruso that it was in fact his first caution of the match. But Rangers grabbed a lifeline in the 76th minute when de Boer found Caniggia, who squared the ball across the face of goal for Lovenkrands to score. That goal, however, was too little to late and Celtic stayed on the pitch to celebrate a massive victory as a furious Advocaat left quickly with Ball surely in his sights.
