2006-04-23: Celtic 0-0 Rangers, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2005 – 2006 | 2005-2006 Pictures

Trivia

  • Artur Boruc's late save from Prso ultimately costs Rangers second position and a place in CL.

Review

It was Celtic who created the better chances early on. Hartson was found unmarked by a Maciej Zurawski overhead kick, but the Welsh striker mis-hit his volley from 14 yards under pressure from Julien Rodriguez.
Waterreus pulled off a fine stop, parrying a curling Maloney free-kick clear one-handed. The Dutchman then raced off his line to block Zurawski's goal-bound effort after the striker was played into the penalty area.
Rangers rarely threatened at the other end.
When striker Kris Boyd did fire the ball low into the corner of the net, he was just offside after latching on to Burke's through ball.
Prso was denied by a superb save from Boruc, the goalkeeper turning the Croatia striker's header on to the post.
Celtic were improved slightly when Nakamura replaced Roy Keane and Waterreus had to get down smartly to turn a Maloney snap-shot from 25 yards wide of his near post.

Teams

Celtic:-
Boruc, Telfer, Varga, McManus, Wilson, Petrov, Lennon, Keane (Nakamura 61), Maloney (McGeady 81), Zurawski, Hartson (Dublin 84).
Subs not used:- Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Wallace.
Booked:- Lennon, McManus.

Rangers:-
Waterreus, Hutton, Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Smith, Burke (Ashikodi 90), Gavin Rae, Hemdani, Buffel, Prso, Kris Boyd (Novo 70).
Subs not used:- Klos, Andrews, Alex Rae, Malcolm.
Booked:- Kyrgiakos, Novo.

Att:- 59,684
Ref:- C Thomson.

Articles

Pictures

Articles

Celtic 0-0 Rangers

BBC
Rangers moved to within four points of second-top Hearts after drawing an atypically lacklustre Old Firm derby away to champions Celtic.

John Hartson fired wide from 14 yards and goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus saved superbly from Shaun Maloney as Celtic made the better first-half chances.

But Chris Burke blasted over from a similar distance for a more incisive Rangers after the break.

And keeper Artur Boruc did well to turn a Dado Prso header on to the post.

Both sets of supporters unfurled banners against sectarianism and racism following the recent threat of Uefa action after Rangers fans' chants in the Champions League.

And attempts to induce a less bitter atmosphere in the stands perhaps contributed to a more subdued style of play on the park.

The biggest talking points were in the pre-match team lines.

McLeish proud after last derby

Stilian Petrov started for Celtic despite handing in a transfer request on Friday, Gordon Strachan's only change being Maloney for Shunsuke Nakamura in midfield.

Rangers were denied the services of captain Barry Ferguson, who will miss the rest of their bid to overtake Hearts for Champions League qualification after being forced to undergo an ankle operation.

His place was taken by Gavin Rae, himself on the comeback trail from surgery.

He helped Rangers match Celtic in terms of midfield possession, but it was the home side who created the better chances early on.

Hartson was found unmarked by a Maciej Zurawski overhead kick, but the Welsh striker mis-hit his volley from 14 yards under pressure from Julien Rodriguez.

Waterreus pulled off a fine stop, parrying a curling Maloney free-kick clear one-handed.

The Dutchman then raced off his line to block Zurawski's goal-bound effort after the striker was played into the penalty area.

Rangers rarely threatened at the other end.

When striker Kris Boyd did fire the ball low into the corner of the net, he was just offside after latching on to Burke's through ball.

Strachan promises plenty of heart

But the Ibrox men should have taken the lead immediately after the break.

Burke blasted over from 16 yards after a fine run and cross from stand-in captain Prso.

Prso was denied by a superb save from Boruc, the goalkeeper turning the Croatia striker's header on to the post.

And Boyd headed over from the resulting corner after Boruc failed to collect the cross.

Celtic were improved slightly when Nakamura replaced Roy Keane and Waterreus had to get down smartly to turn a Maloney snap-shot from 25 yards wide of his near post.

But Rangers grabbed a deserved share of the points in Alex McLeish's last derby as manager.

Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Varga, McManus, Wilson, Petrov, Lennon, Keane (Nakamura 61), Maloney (McGeady 81), Zurawski, Hartson (Dublin 84).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Wallace.

Booked: Lennon, McManus.

Rangers: Waterreus, Hutton, Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Smith, Burke (Ashikodi 90), Gavin Rae, Hemdani, Buffel, Prso, Kris Boyd (Novo 70).
Subs Not Used: Klos, Andrews, Alex Rae, Malcolm.

Booked: Kyrgiakos, Novo.

Att: 59,684

Ref: C Thomson

Strachan is writers' boss of year

BBC
Celtic's Gordon Strachan has been voted manager of the year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association in the tightest vote ever for the prize.

It follows an often heated debate in the Scottish media, with many also backing Kilmarnock's Jim Jefferies.

SFWA president Jim Black said: "It was a desperately close race and it was highly appropriate that was the case."

Strachan has led Celtic to the Scottish title and victory in the CIS Insurance Cup in his first season with the club.

The former Southampton and Coventry City manager had made a disastrous start to his tenure at Celtic Park, exiting the Champions League after a 5-0 hammering away to Artmedia Bratislava.

Some fans called for his sacking when it was it was quickly followed by a 4-4 draw with Motherwell and his side also later suffered a surprise Scottish Cup exit away to First Division Clyde.

Receiving the manager of the year award reflects the major achievements of the team
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

But they recovered from those blows to win the Scottish Premier League title in record time and defeat Dunfermline Athletic 3-0 at Hampden.

Former Falkirk, Hearts and Bradford City boss Jefferies had been forced to slash his playing budget at the start of the season but has kept Kilmarnock in the hunt for a Uefa Cup qualification spot.

Amid arguments in the media about their respective merits, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell had said that to give it to anyone other than Strachan would be for "reasons other than football".

However, Black said: "While Gordon has the silverware, Jim has done an incredible job under very trying circumstances.

"But, given Celtic's trophy success, it can't be disputed that Gordon is the worthy winner."

Strachan, who will be presented with the award at the Glasgow Thistle Hotel on 23 April, said: "Receiving the manager of the year award reflects the major achievements of the team this season.

"The effort and commitment by the players, backroom staff and everyone at the club has been tremendous."

Jefferies had no complaints and said: "Congratulations to Gordon. I'm glad it's all over because it seemed to be every time you picked up a paper, there were people talking about it.

"I said that, if Gordon got it, he would deserve it. And he does.

"It was very satisfying for me even to be considered and it shows that people appreciate the job that is being done at Kilmarnock."

Celtic youngster Shaun Maloney and Hearts duo Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon are believed to be battling for the writers' player of the year prize.

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith and Hearts' Calum Elliot are being tipped to land the young player award.

Strachan promises plenty of heart

BBC
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has promised his players will show 100% commitment against Champions League-chasing Hearts next weekend.

"Giving the boys a few days off after our title celebrations was maybe not a good idea," he said after a lacklustre display in a 0-0 draw with Rangers.

"We did things that we've been working on this week that saved us, but it was obviously not our best day.

"We will be giving it a full working week before the Hearts game."

Rangers' draw moves Celtic's city rivals to within four points of Hearts for that Champions League qualification spot.

"We had a crazy period over on the right-hand side of the defence at the start of the second-half," said Strachan.

"But we became a far better side when Shunsuke Nakamura came on for Roy Keane.

"I am not being derogatory to Roy, but I just think he held the ball better in that position.

"I had left him out because of the physical nature of the game, but I will have to think about that now.

"I decided a few weeks ago to rest Shaun Maloney for the Hibs game and Naka for the Rangers game, but the championship is won."