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Trivia
- JVoH scores at the death to help push Celtic to the title. Without this victory it wuld have been all over most likely,
- Caldwell Sent-off post-match after a tussle with Weir (who was also sent-off) (see: below or Link)
- Our first goals v the Huns in a year!
- Our first victory against the Huns in a year
- Nakamura’s first goal agains the Huns (what a stunner it was too); a classic.
- Skippy missed a penalty
- “What a game, it had absolutely everything, Nakamura’s wonder goal, very good equaliser from Novo, Cuellar sent off for deliberate handball on the line, McDonald’s missed penalty then JVoH winning it in injury time just after RFC fans started singing “you’re gonna win F**k all”. @agentscotland on Twitter in 2020
Review
We have finally beaten the Huns and put paid to that nonsense about a “walter hoodoo” over WGS. A very good first half for the Celts where we deservedly took the lead through a scorcher by Naka. We let the huns back in thru some bad luck, but then threw it away almost when Skippy missed a penalty after a Hun blocked a goal on the line and got sent off for it! An injury time winner (93rd min) by JVoH who otherwise was anonymous in the game capped off possibly the team’s first great performance of the year.
DIG
From the first moment of the game, when Robson went right through Dailly, it became clear that finally we are not going to bullied by Rangers anymore. This was also displayed at the end of the game, when our players refused to be intimidated, as they clearly have been in the previous three Rangers games at least. If it takes a couple of cards and a ban for the younger guys to finally fight back then so be it. A hugely important lesson was learned tonight by our younger players. Hopefully it wil give them the mental strength and confidence for the remaining fixtures.
Even when it came to our two goalscorers they stood up to be counted in a vital fixture, where neither had shone previously. Yes, even big Jan and Naka showed dig, Naka’s being one of the most beautiful digs of all time, from 25 yards over the head of McGregor.
NERVES
I thought it was fairly clear that Rangers were the more nervous team tonight. I believe that is because they are not used to being in the position they are in. Now, as they reach the end of the season and the silverware looms into view, the reality of the situation will really be hitting home. They are ahead but now have a lot of matches, a couple of injuries, some suspensions and the expectation of their own fans that they should win four trophies, when the only true expectations in August 2007 were that they should challenge in the SPL this season. I think the reality of it all will be hitting home and I hope the defeat tonight swings things round for us, just like their first derby win under the cardigan did for them.
Cuellar made errors, with slack passing and poor touches around his own area, this all culminated in his handball and red card. For such a consistent performer to hit a bad spell right now, and pick up a suspension, can only be good news for us. You can’t judge him on one performance, but you can hope.
Ferguson disappeared into his shell when he should have been grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. He has been in poor form for a few weeks. Thomson is obviously the stronger player in the middle of this current Rangers team. Apparently Ferguson does not train and receives a cortisone injection before every game. I believe he will struggle to drag this team over the finish line in top spot in all competitions. The question becomes, which tournaments will they win and which ones will they lose? One win against them can’t change our season that dramatically, but with Celtic and Rangers nothing is impossible. The nerves will be jangling for them now and when they enter their next game, minus some of their most important players, the possibility of a cup shock is not entirely out of the question. One slip up now and it will be game on because they have to come back to Celtic Park, which was an absolute cauldron tonight.
Continuing on the theme of nerves, Walter Smith was very jittery in his post-match press conference. He rounded on the press in attendance, questioning them as to whether they believed the title was in the bag or not. He stated that they had to make up their minds. Some might say that was a stange comment for him to make and I was surprised by it given his experience.
EXPERIENCE
On the same topic, Robson and Hartley are a perfect example of a good experienced midfield pairing and that was massively important tonight. Their experience (and dig) even though interspersed with some unsure moments, provided the platform for the team to build on. Perhaps Brown will have to work harder than he thought to get back into the first eleven at Celtic. I believe this current incarnation of the team should remain until they are defeated, unless in the case of unavoidable changes due to suspensions. I just hope the team is not changed greatly for no reason when we meet Aberdeen inthe league.
Speaking of returns, I also wonder if the return of Neil Lennon, a very experienced player in Rangers games had a positive effect on the players and tonight’s result. I thought it was tangible, from Robson’s tackle to the spat at the end. I guess time will tell.
Keep the pressure on them, Celtic, because you never know what can happen when it comes down to the wire.
Teams
Celtic team:-
Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor (Wilson 46), Nakamura, Hartley, Robson (Samaras 75), McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, McGowan, Sno, Donati, Balde.
Booked:- Hartley, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Scorers:- Nakamura 20, Vennegoor of Hesselink 90.
Rangers team:-
McGregor (Alexander 77), Broadfoot (Novo 46), Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Dailly, Whittaker, Ferguson, Davis, McCulloch, Darcheville (Cousin 83).
Subs Not Used:- Boyd, Naismith, Furman, McMillan. Sent Off: Cuellar (70).
Booked:- Broadfoot, Naismith, Weir.
Scorer:- Novo 55.
Att: 58,964
Ref: K Clark
Articles
Pictures
KStreet
- Pre-match
- Match
- MoTM – Robson (Link to MOTM Winners)
- Post-match
Stats
CELTIC RANGERS
Possession
| 62% | 38% |
Shots on target
| 4 | 2 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 3 |
Corners
| 11 | 5 |
Fouls
| 13 | 11 |
Celtic 2-1 Rangers
BBC
By Colin Moffat
Celtic’s Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored an injury-time header to narrow the gap on Rangers to one point.
Shunsuke Nakamura fired Celtic ahead with a wonderful swerving shot, while Nacho Novo’s strike levelled.
Carlos Cuellar was sent off for handling a net-bound Nakamura shot but the injured Allan McGregor was able to save Scott McDonald’s spot-kick.
But the Celtic striker struck late on, while David Weir and Gary Caldwell saw red cards after a full-time melee.
A tumultuous evening ended with an ugly scuffle involving several players and Scotland colleagues Weir and Caldwell appeared to exchange blows.
Celtic captain Stephen McManus was also shown a yellow card after a match which has breathed new life into the title race.
With Rangers having played two games less than their closest challengers, Walter Smith’s men remain strong favourites.
However, Celtic will take great heart from a stirring win and the teams meet again at Celtic Park on 27 April.
The game opened in typically frantic fashion, with the home side looking particularly anxious.
The opening 15 minutes were notable only for a series of bruising challenges, with Celtic’s Paul Hartley picking up the game’s first yellow card for a late lunge at Lee McCulloch.
However, after winning a sequence of corners, Celtic took the lead in spectacular fashion.
Nakamura, criticised for an anonymous display in the previous Old Firm clash, picked up a pass from Caldwell and the ball sat up nicely for the Japanese star to lash home a swerving strike from 25 yards.
McGregor had no chance at stopping the goal but the Rangers keeper did not look too convincing when he awkwardly pushed away a fierce cross from McDonald that may have been creeping in at the near post.
Rangers were struggling to get hold of the ball and when the visitors did get a sight of goal Jean-Claude Darcheville blazed a long-range shot high over the crossbar.
On the stroke of half time, Darcheville scampered on to a Steven Whittaker pass but his scuffed shot hit the covering Lee Naylor and found the side-netting.
Novo replaced defender Kirk Broadfoot at the break and the little striker wasted no time in making his mark.
With the whirlwind pace showing no signs of abating, Novo collected a Whittaker pass and sped into the penalty box before rifling a low, angled strike into the far corner of the net.
Celtic responded with a flurry of attacks, with Rangers defenders throwing themselves into blocks in and around their penalty area.
On 70 minutes, the match took another dramatic turn when Cuellar was sent off for pushing Nakamura’s shot onto the crossbar.
McDonald stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick but McGregor, who was limping with an ankle problem, sprung to his left and tipped the ball on to the post before gathering.
McGregor was strapped up but only lasted another six minutes and had to be replaced by Neil Alexander.
Celtic poured forward in search of a winner and were rewarded in the 93rd minute when Vennegoor of Hesselink headed home from McDonald’s nodded set-up.
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor (Wilson 46), Nakamura, Hartley, Robson (Samaras 75), McGeady, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, McGowan, Sno, Donati, Balde.
Booked: Hartley, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Goals: Nakamura 20, Vennegoor of Hesselink 90.
Rangers: McGregor (Alexander 77), Broadfoot (Novo 46), Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Dailly, Whittaker, Ferguson, Davis, McCulloch, Darcheville (Cousin 83). Subs Not Used: Boyd, Naismith, Furman, McMillan.
Sent Off: Cuellar (70).
Booked: Broadfoot, Naismith, Weir.
Goal: Novo 55.
Att: 58,964
Ref: K Clark
Win keeps hopes alive – Strachan
BBC
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
Strachan was happy to see his side snatch a last-gasp winner
Manager Gordon Strachan was delighted to see Celtic stay in the title race after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s injury-time winner.
“It keeps it ticking along nicely,” Strachan told BBC Sport after a thrilling 2-1 victory at Celtic Park.
“We showed tremendous spirit to come back and keep creating chances after missing the penalty.”
Celtic are a point behind the Scottish Premier League leaders but have played two games more than their rivals.
A brawl broke out on the pitch on the final whistle but Strachan said: “I’ve not got a clue what happened.
“For me to comment on something I don’t know anything about would be like me talking about politics. I never saw anything there.”
Asked if the referee requested to talk to any Hoops stars, Strachan added: “I think he wanted to speak to one or two players after the game. I think he spoke to one or two players.”
It later transpired that Celtic’s Gary Caldwell and David Weir of Rangers were shown red cards after the match, which followed the 70th-minute dismissal of the visitors’ defender Carlos Cuellar for handling a net-bound Shunsuke Nakamura shot.
“I think the Old Firm games have gone back to a 1980s style,” stated Strachan.
“When I first came here it was a footballing Old Firm but it’s more intense now.
“Atmosphere-wise it’s good, as long as the players maintain discipline.”
MY SPORT: DEBATE
Give your reaction to the result at Celtic Park
Nakamura fired Celtic in front as the home side dominated the first half.
Nacho Novo equalised after the break and Celtic missed a great chance when Scott McDonald’s penalty, which followed Cuellar’s handball, was saved by Allan McGregor.
However, Celtic found a winner in the 93rd minute when Vennegoor of Hesselink headed home from inside the six-yard box.
“We were in control in the first half and I felt we were worthy of our lead, although I would have preferred two or three,” said Strachan.
“I knew one wouldn’t be enough because Rangers would react – and they did.”
Caldwell and Weir will be banned
Old Firm players in brawl at full-time
Celtic’s Gary Caldwell and Rangers’ David Weir will receive one-match bans following their part in the melee that concluded Wednesday’s Old Firm derby.
The two defenders squared up to each other on the pitch after the final whistle as Celtic won 2-1.
Caldwell will miss Celtic’s next league game, against Aberdeen – Weir is out of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar, who was sent off for hand ball, misses his side’s next league game, versus Celtic.
Cuellar prevented a Shunsuke Nakamura drive on the goalline, leading to a penalty from Scott McDonald that was saved by Allan McGregor.
However, Celtic won the game thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Gary Caldwell and David Weir grapple at Celtic Park
Caldwell and Weir were at each other’s throatshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7352099.stm
The final whistle was followed by angry scenes involving a number of players from both sides.
And Scotland team-mates Weir and Caldwell were hauled into referee Kenny Clark’s room after the game.
Although Clark’s report has yet to arrive at the SFA offices, it is certain that Caldwell will miss Saturday’s league game, while Weir will be missing for Rangers against St Johnstone.
Scottish FA disciplinary and referees chief Drew Herbertson said: “It is the case that David Weir and Gary Caldwell are to be reported for violent conduct, which means both will be suspended for the next match.”
But former Celtic captain Tom Boyd played down the incident, describing it as “handbags”.
“I’ve seen worse in my time in an Old Firm game,” he told BBC Sport.
“I think it was just the emotion of a last-minute goal and a couple of wee things that were probably said at times.
“And then you’ve got everyone coming in aggressively to try to push people away.”
MY SPORT: DEBATE
Give your reaction to the Old Firm derby
The referee will also include details in his match report of the incident that saw Rangers doctor Paul Jackson struck by an item thrown from the crowd as he attended to injured goalkeeper McGregor.
That will be dealt with by the Scottish Premier League, which is awaiting the report from its delegate before deciding whether action is required.
Victory for reigning champions Celtic reduced the gap at the top of the table to one point.
Rangers have two games in hand but must return to Celtic Park on Sunday 27 April without Clydesdale Bank player of the year Cuellar and, possibly, goalkeeper McGregor.
McGregor had to be substituted in the final 10 minutes after picking up what looked like a serious ankle injury.