| Match Pictures | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- John Hartson celebrated his new deal with Celtic by scoring the goal that beat Rangers.
- it's now five years since Rangers had defeatd them at Celtic Park.
- Celtic went on to win the Scottish Cup this year.
Review
Rangers started brightly but it was Stilian Petrov who posed the first threat in front of goal when his 10th minute volley from the edge of the box forced Stefan Klos to scramble across his goal to gather the ball. A couple of minutes later Hartson got his head to an Alan Thompson cross but Klos got down well to save and Marvin Andrews completed the clearance. Celtic were enjoying more pressure as the half wore on and almost took the lead after 28 minutes when an Aiden McGeady cross was unwittingly headed back across his own goal by Alex Rae.
Celtic took the lead just under 10 minutes before the break. A long clearance by Douglas was not dealt with by Zura Khizanishvili, who allowed the ball to skim off his shoulder in an aerial challenge with Hartson, and it fell kindly for Sutton, who slid the ball under Klos.
Rangers levelled when the ball was worked out to Alan Hutton on the right and his cross picked out Ricksen who directed his header beyond the despairing dive of Douglas.
Having been pegged back, Celtic went on the offensive. First Petrov cut inside Vignal before bringing out a good save from Klos.
Celtic regained the lead after 77 minutes when Agathe swung in a cross, Sutton missed an attempted flick but the ball fell to Hartson at the back post and his shot was deflected past Klos by Andrews.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Agathe, Petrov, Thompson, McGeady (Camara 84), Sutton, Hartson.
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Juninho Paulista, Lambert, Wallace.
Goals:- Sutton 37, Hartson 77.
Booked:- McNamara, Hartson.
Rangers:-
Klos, Hutton, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Vignal,Namouchi (Thompson 81), Ricksen, Alex Rae,Djordjic (Buffel 67), Prso, Novo.
Subs Not Used:- McGregor, Malcolm, Ball.
Goal:- Ricksen 47.
Booked:- Namouchi, Ricksen.
Att:- 58,622
Referee:- H Dallas.
Articles
- Match Report (BBC)
- Manager Interview (BBC) – O'Neill praises 'worthy winners'.
Pictures
BBC
Celtic 2-1 Rangers
John Hartson shows his delight at scoring the winner
O'Neill hails 'worthy winners'
McLeish not despondent
John Hartson celebrated his new deal with Celtic by scoring the goal that beat Rangers and put his side into the Scottish Cup fourth round.
The Welshman struck from close range with 13 minutes remaining to secure a hard-earned victory for Celtic.
Chris Sutton put the home side ahead when he latched onto the ball eight yards from goal to slot into the net.
Fernando Ricksen drew Rangers level with a well-placed header past Rab Douglas just after half time.
Rangers started brightly but it was Stilian Petrov who posed the first threat in front of goal when his 10th minute volley from the edge of the box forced Stefan Klos to scramble across his goal to gather the ball.
A couple of minutes later Hartson got his head to an Alan Thompson cross but Klos got down well to save and Marvin Andrews completed the clearance.
At the other end Andrews headed over, though he clashed heads with Dado Prso as he did so and had to go off to have the facial wound patched up.
Celtic were enjoying more pressure as the half wore on and almost took the lead after 28 minutes when an Aiden McGeady cross was unwittingly headed back across his own goal by Alex Rae.
Klos got a hand to the ball, which fell to Hartson in a packed six-yard box but the Welshman's half-hit effort was gratefully collected on his line by the Rangers keeper.
But Celtic took the lead just under 10 minutes before the break.
A long clearance by Douglas was not dealt with by Zura Khizanishvili, who allowed the ball to skim off his shoulder in an aerial challenge with Hartson, and it fell kindly for Sutton, who slid the ball under Klos.
Rangers clearly felt the wrath of manager Alex McLeish at half time and drew level just over a minute after the break.
The ball was worked out to Alan Hutton on the right and his cross picked out Ricksen who directed his header beyond the despairing dive of Douglas.
Having been pegged back, Celtic went on the offensive. First Petrov cut inside Vignal before bringing out a good save from Klos.
Then Khizanishvili acrobatically cleared the ball off the line after Klos had almost punched McGeady's cross into his own net.
Next it was Ricksen who was ideally placed to block Sutton's header on the line as Rangers came under real pressure.
At the other end Douglas was quickly off his line to thwart Nacho Novo, before Sutton again threatened with a glancing header just wide.
Celtic regained the lead after 77 minutes when Agathe swung in a cross, Sutton missed an attempted flick but the ball fell to Hartson at the back post and his shot was deflected past Klos by Andrews.
Novo almost grabbed a fortuitous equaliser when he mis-controlled a Prso shot and Douglas had to dive to turn the ball round the post.
Rangers' new signing Thomas Buffel, on as a substitute, had a terrific opportunity to score on his debut as full time approached, but he lobbed over.
Celtic: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Laursen, Agathe,Petrov, Thompson, McGeady (Camara 84), Sutton, Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Juninho Paulista, Lambert, Wallace.
Booked: McNamara, Hartson.
Goals: Sutton 37, Hartson 77.
Rangers: Klos, Hutton, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Vignal,Namouchi (Thompson 81), Ricksen, Alex Rae,Djordjic (Buffel 67), Prso, Novo.
Subs Not Used: McGregor, Malcolm, Ball.
Booked: Namouchi, Ricksen.
Goal: Ricksen 47.
Att: 58,622
Referee: H Dallas
O'Neill praises 'worthy winners'
SCOTTISH CUP
O'Neill's Celtic side are now favourites for the Scottish Cup
Celtic 2-1 Rangers
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill felt his side were deserving of their Scottish Cup third round win over Rangers.
"I'm very pleased to get through. With such a slender lead you're never quite there until it's over," said O'Neill.
"Chris Sutton and John Hartson were a handful all afternoon, although I had my heart in my mouth towards the end when Rangers had chances to equalise.
"They're very dangerous at set pieces but all in all I thought we were worthy winners," added O'Neill.
