2011-02-20: Celtic 3-0 Rangers, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2010 – 2011 | 2010-2011 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic go 8pts clear, and the destiny of the league title is now in our hands!
  • Hooper double with Commons single goal.
  • Diouf first match at Celtic Park since spitting on a Celtic fan in Liverpool v Celtic game in 2003!
  • There was a video tribute to Reamonn Gormley who was tragically killed and was buried recently. A good Celtic man, he died young and will be missed by all those who had the good fortune to know him.
  • Birth of "Let's all do the Broony".

Review

Absolutely magnificent.

Today's performance confirmed that we've got a team there that is capable of pushing on and winning that league. Win it, and we prove to both ourselves and Rangers that we're back in town at last. Lose, and it would have a hugely negative effect upon our season. To win so convincingly was so utterly satisfying. We've been due a handsome victory over Smith's side for a while now, and we did it with style to burn today. Credit is due to every player on the park as well as Lennon who was brave enough to mix it up again and revert back to a 4-4-2 formation. They looked shellshocked at the very end of the game.

David Weir, if it wasn't public knowledge before, is now officially past it. He was done up like a kipper for the first goal by Hooper, and played Izzaguire on for the second. He then had the brass neck to make his way over to the linesman and fire off a dignified volley of abuse. The man is a fool and has been masquerading as a footballer for about a year now. When he first came back up north, his experience and ability to read the game got him by comfortably in this league. This season though, he's been embarassingly poor for Rangers. They are welcome to him.

Get in there.

Teams

Celtic

  • 26 Forster
  • 03 Izaguirre
  • 05 Majstorovic
  • 12 Wilson
  • 21 Mulgrew
  • 08 Brown
  • 16 Ledley
  • 33 Baram Kayal; yellow card (Ki Sung-Yeung 60)
  • 09 Samaras
  • 15 Commons (Forrest 82)
  • 88 Hooper (Stokes 85)

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska,
  • 04 Juarez,
  • 25 Rogne,
  • 18 Ki Sung-Yeung,
  • 20 McCourt,
  • 10 Stokes,
  • 49 Forrest

Goals

  • Hooper 17
  • Hooper 28
  • Commons 70

Rangers

  • 01 McGregor
  • 03 Weir; yellow card
  • 05 Papac
  • 16 Whittaker
  • 21 Bartley; yellow card
  • 24 Bougherra; yellow card
  • 07 Edu
  • 08 Davis
  • 14 Naismith (Lafferty 46; yellow card)
  • 17 Diouf; yellow card (Healy 68)
  • 18 Jelavic

Substitutes

  • 25 Alexander,
  • 12 Foster,
  • 20 Weiss,
  • 10 Fleck,
  • 11 Lafferty,
  • 15 Healy,
  • 41 Hutton
Ref: Brines
Att: 58,748

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Celtic 60%
  • Rangers 40%

Attempts on target

  • Celtic 6
  • Rangers 2

Attempts off target

  • Celtic 2
  • Rangers 7

Corners

  • Celtic 6
  • Rangers 7

Fouls

  • Celtic 7
  • Rangers 18

Articles

Celtic 3 – 0 Rangers: Hooper's double delight as Celtic stride toward title

The Scotsman

Published Date: 20 February 2011
By David Gunn

Celtic took a significant step towards the Scottish Premier League title on Sunday with a surgical victory over their old rivals.Gary Hooper delighted the home fans with the opening goal in 17 minutes, slicing open the Rangers defence before firing through keeper Allan McGregor's legs.

When Emilio Izaguirre cut down the left wing before delivering a delicious cross for Hooper to slide home from six yards on 28 minutes the tie was virtually sewn up.

Rangers rarely threatened and Commons' swerving shot from 22 yards sealed the win on 70 minutes.

The victory puts Neil Lennon's team beyond the reach of Rangers for now, regardless of the outcome of their two games in hand.

Nikica Jelavic was drafted straight back into the Rangers team as the lone striker after being ineligible for Thursday's Europa League tie against Sporting Lisbon.

Steven Naismith returned from injury and Kyle Bartley also started, with Kyle Lafferty, Vladimir Weiss and Richard Foster dropping out of the side.

Celtic made just one change from their win over Dundee United as Anthony Stokes was replaced by Georgios Samaras, who netted a double at Ibrox in January.

El-Hadji Diouf – who spat on a Celtic fan on his last visit to Parkhead in 2003 – was jeered every time he touched the ball.

But it was Bartley who picked up the first booking after just three minutes for a challenge on Scott Brown.

Celtic took the lead after 17 minutes when Commons supplied the pass for Hooper and he beat David Weir for pace before rifling past Allan McGregor.

Jelavic tried to pull a goal back quickly but could only look on in frustration as he hooked well over the crossbar.

Celtic increased their lead after 28 minutes when Hooper claimed his second of the day.

Samaras started the move by releasing Emilio Izaguirre out on the left and he whipped a great ball to the feet of Hooper to stab home.

Referee Iain Brines produced his yellow card again as Diouf and Beram Kayal were both cautioned in the aftermath of the celebrations.

Naismith appeared to be struggling and was replaced by Lafferty at the break.

Rangers tried to haul themselves back into the game and Jelavic nodded just wide from a Steven Davis cross.

But only last gasp defending prevented them from falling further behind when Sasa Papac cleared Brown's header off the line.

At the other end, Diouf tried to lob Fraser Forster but the Hoops goalkeeper was up to the challenge.

Celtic made a change of their own when Kayal was swapped for Ki Sung-yeung, before Madjid Bougherra was booked for dissent.

Diouf was withdrawn with just over 20 minutes to go to the delight of the Celtic fans as Rangers threw David Healy into the action in search of a goal.

But there was no way back for the Scottish champions when Celtic netted their third after 70 minutes.

Hooper had been impressive and turned provider for Commons who sent a swerving effort past McGregor into the back of the net.

The Rangers goalkeeper then did well to block a ferocious strike from Ki but by then the damage was well and truly done.

Celtic 3-0 Rangers

By Keir Murray
Celtic took a significant step towards the Scottish Premier League title with a clinical defeat of their old rivals.

Gary Hooper delighted the home fans with the opening goal in 17 minutes, accelerating past David Weir and firing through keeper Allan McGregor's legs.

Then Emilio Izaguirre's surging run and delicious cross set up Hooper to fire home from six yards on 28 minutes.

Rangers rarely threatened and Commons' swerving shot from 22 yards sealed a comprehensive win.

The teams scarcely needed familiarity to breed contempt but, with this being their fourth of seven meetings this season in league and cups, there was a danger that tempers could flare.
Predictably, the match began at breakneck pace.

Kyle Bartley was one of three players brought into the Rangers team by manager Walter Smith – Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic the others – but the on-loan Arsenal youngster was in referee Iain Brines' book after only two minutes for a late sliding challenge on Celtic captain Scott Brown.

El Hadji Diouf was the instant target of goading from the home fans and the occasional Celtic player and he was part of a five-man midfield that helped to force Celtic on to the back foot in the opening exchanges without ever threatening Fraser Forster's goal.

Georgios Samaras was re-instated to partner Hooper up front for Celtic. The Greek had scored twice at Ibrox on 2 January but was on the bench for the 2-2 draw in the Scottish Cup two weeks ago.

Yet it was the English striker who had the Celtic fans in raptures with two goals in 11 first-half minutes.

The first was a prime example of control and finishing.

Twenty yards from goal Hooper took a pass from Commons on the left and with one touch knocked it past veteran defender David Weir, the contrast in pace described by Radio Scotland commentator David Begg as being "like an express train going by an old puffer".

One-on-one with McGregor, he cracked a low shot through the Rangers keeper's legs to put his team ahead.

Rangers pushed Celtic back briefly after the goal and Diouf's dangerous ball from the left into the six-yard box, though narrowly missed by Maurice Edu and Nikica Jelavic, offered the visiting fans some hope.

But in 28 minutes Hooper slid the ball home to double Celtic's advantage.

Izaguirre broke clear down the left and delivered an inviting ball across goal that was met by Hooper on the six-yard line.

Rangers were stung and their play was disjointed. Steven Davis and Maurice Edu were their central midfielders and while the former's crosses into the box lacked accuracy, the American's performance was below par.

At half-time Smith replaced the injured Steven Naismith with Kyle Lafferty and the Northern Ireland striker set up his team's best chance of the game up to that point when in 50 minutes he cut in from his left-midfield berth and floated a ball on the toe of Diouf, now playing up front.

The on-loan Blackburn striker controlled the ball beautifully and tried to lob Fraser Forster but the 6ft 7in keeper managed to tip the effort away from goal.

That chance followed one for Celtic, when Samaras's cross was flapped away by McGregor on to the head of Brown, whose nod towards goal was cleared off the goal-line by Sasa Papac.

Rangers' attacking pairing threatened again when, in 56 minutes, Diouf crossed from the right but the Croatian Jelavic headed a yard wide.

Smith sent on David Healy to replace Diouf, who had been looking more dangerous in an advanced role.

Within moments, though, Commons secured the points with 20 minutes to play.

Hooper supplied the pass for the Scotland international who switched the ball from his left to his right, evading Madjid Bougherra, and hit a swerving shot past the wrong-footed McGregor from 22 yards.

As the din cascaded round the ground, Lafferty set up Jelavic but he knocked a shot wide of Forster's goal from 18 yards.

Ki Sung-Yeung, who had replaced the limping Kayal on the hour mark, stung McGregor's palms with a rasping shot as Celtic looked to intensify their rivals' suffering.

In the final minutes Commons and Hooper took the applause of the home fans as James Forrest and Anthony Stokes were given a run-out.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9399876.stm

Published: 2011/02/20 14:35:38 GMT

Celtic 'product' satisfies Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes his players are now producing displays that the team's supporters can savour.

"We're putting a product on the pitch that the fans can connect with," said Lennon after his team cruised to a 3-0 defeat of Rangers in the league.

"There is a bit of pride going around the club again, which has been missing for a while.

"A lot of questions were being asked today and the players have answered them in spades."

The Old Firm went head-to-head for the fourth time this season and this was the first match that had resulted in a home win.

Celtic took a grip of the game in the 17th minute when Gary Hooper burst into the Rangers box and smashed a low shot through Allan McGregor's legs.

There is a long way to go in the season so we are not taking anything for granted
Celtic manager Neil Lennon
And the former Scunthorpe striker doubled Celtic's lead 11 minutes later when he turned in Emilio Izaguirre's cross.

Rangers, who drew with Sporting Lisbon at Ibrox on Thursday evening in the Europa League, were disappointing and looked jaded.

But Lennon's focus was on his own team's showing.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: "That was a wonderful performance today. I thought we controlled the majority of the game and our football today was fantastic.

"I am delighted for all of the players. Every one of them, from start to finish, was superb.

"Since the turn of the year they have kicked on. Every one of them, whether it's the starting 11 or the people we bring on, they are all making fantastic contributions to the team.

"We believe in these players and they are starting to believe in themselves as well."

While insisting that "the real star was the team", Lennon was particularly pleased with the contributions of striker Georgios Samaras, winger Kris Commons and captain Scott Brown.

"Samaras was unplayable again. He stretched Rangers and got them going back the way we wanted to and created room for Commons and Brown," he said.

"Hooper was magnificent.

"But we are not getting carried away. It gives us an eight-point gap and for the first time in a while it is in our hands. We've got to take a lot of positives from today's performance.

"I am very proud of the way the team is playing but there is a long way to go in the season so we are not taking anything for granted."

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/9403033.stm

Published: 2011/02/20 15:51:45 GMT

© BBC 2011

Smith dismayed by Rangers display

Rangers manager Walter Smith rates the 3-0 defeat to Celtic as his worst Old Firm experience since his return to the Ibrox helm in January 2007.

"We are better than what we showed but give credit to Celtic," said Smith.

"They capitalised on our errors and deserved to win. We never really started the game at all. Our defending was poor, our possession was poor.

"All in all, it was as poor a performance as we have had against Celtic since I came back."

The Scottish champions slipped eight points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premier League as Gary Hooper netted a first-half double and Kris Commons added a long-range strike.

Rangers have two games in hand on their old rivals but Smith concedes his side will have to improve markedly to close the gap.

The visitors were toothless in attack during the first half and only managed a slight improvement after the interval when they were chasing the game.

"I don't think you can say our team lacks belief or character because our team has been playing well over the last few years so I don't think it was anything to do with that," continued Smith.

"It was a poor performance from our point of view and we are disappointed about that. We didn't look as though we had the necessary edge and that was a worrying factor for us."

As far as Smith is concerned, Rangers now need to lift themselves for the remainder of the campaign, having not quite hit top form so far in 2011.

"Everybody looks at the Old Firm games but I don't think we have been playing that well since the turn of the year," he added.

"We've been patchy with our form although we have managed to win some of the games so we will have to look at getting a better level of consistency about us.

"If we can gain that consistency, we always have the final Old Firm game of the season at Ibrox, which will take on importance if we can take on a level of consistency. We are going to have to search for something that will give us a lift in the remaining part of the season."

Steven Naismith pulled up with an ongoing hamstring problem late in the first half and is now facing several weeks on the sidelines.

Smith said: "He's had the injury for a few weeks now and I dare say now he will have to be out for a few weeks to clarify and rectify exactly what's wrong."

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/9403091.stm

Published: 2011/02/20 17:36:50 GMT

© BBC 2011

© BBC 2011

  • Full Time
  • 90:00+3:11 The referee signals the end of the game.
  • 90:00+2:37 Short corner worked by Sung-Yeung Ki.
  • 89:28 David Weir concedes a free kick for a foul on Georgios Samaras. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
  • 89:28 Booking The referee shows David Weir a yellow card.
  • 88:19 The referee blows for offside against Madjid Bougherra. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
  • Correction – 87:41 Corner taken by Steven Davis from the right by-line, Maurice Edu takes a shot. Mark Wilson manages to make a clearance.
  • 87:41 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Steven Davis from the right by-line, David Weir takes a shot. Clearance by Mark Wilson.
  • 86:14 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Wilson by Kyle Lafferty. Daniel Majstorovic restarts play with the free kick.
  • 86:14 Booking Kyle Lafferty is booked.
  • 85:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Whittaker on Anthony Stokes. Direct free kick taken by Georgios Samaras.
  • 84:24 Shot from 30 yards from Sung-Yeung Ki. Save by Allan McGregor. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Sung-Yeung Ki, Steven Whittaker makes a clearance.
  • 84:24 Substitution Gary Hooper leaves the field to be replaced by Anthony Stokes.
  • 81:46 Kyle Lafferty challenges Scott Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sung-Yeung Ki.
  • 81:08 Substitution James Forrest joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kris Commons.
  • 79:53 Unfair challenge on Emilio Izaguirre by Madjid Bougherra results in a free kick. Kris Commons delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance by Kyle Lafferty. Short corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki.
  • 77:45 Corner from the right by-line taken by Steven Davis, Mark Wilson makes a clearance.
  • 75:01 Nikica Jelavic produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
  • 74:42 Foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Steven Davis, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David Weir.
  • 72:42 Shot from inside the area by Nikica Jelavic clears the bar.
  • 71:52 Kyle Bartley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. Georgios Samaras restarts play with the free kick.
  • 69:44 Gary Hooper provided the assist for the goal.
  • 69:44 GOAL – Kris Commons:Celtic 3 – 0 Rangers Kris Commons scores a goal from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 3-0 Rangers.
  • 68:33 Steven Whittaker challenges Emilio Izaguirre unfairly and gives away a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick.
  • 67:31 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Steven Davis, save made by Fraser Forster.
  • 67:31 Substitution David Healy on for El-Hadji Diouf.
  • 65:12 Madjid Bougherra challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kris Commons crosses the ball in from the free kick.
  • 65:12 Booking Madjid Bougherra goes into the book.
  • 63:52 Charlie Mulgrew crosses the ball, save by Allan McGregor.
  • 62:42 Kris Commons fouled by Steven Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Sung-Yeung Ki crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Steven Whittaker. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kris Commons.
  • 61:37 Kris Commons fouled by Steven Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 60:46 Kris Commons fouled by Madjid Bougherra, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 59:37 Substitution Sung-Yeung Ki comes on in place of Beram Kayal.
  • 57:58 Shot from outside the box by Beram Kayal goes wide right of the target.
  • 57:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Maurice Edu on Georgios Samaras. Direct free kick taken by Georgios Samaras.
  • 55:53 Maurice Edu concedes a free kick for a foul on Beram Kayal. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
  • 55:13 A cross is delivered by El-Hadji Diouf, Nikica Jelavic has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
  • 54:08 Corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf.
  • 51:49 El-Hadji Diouf takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
  • 49:50 Georgios Samaras produces a cross, save by Allan McGregor. Scott Brown takes a shot. Sasa Papac makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, clearance made by Kyle Bartley.
  • 49:16 Beram Kayal gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf. Maurice Edu takes the direct free kick.
  • 47:37 Emilio Izaguirre concedes a free kick for a foul on El-Hadji Diouf. The free kick is swung in right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf, save by Fraser Forster.
  • 46:22 Steven Davis produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Nikica Jelavic misses to the right of the goal.
  • 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
  • 45:01 Substitution Kyle Lafferty joins the action as a substitute, replacing Steven Naismith.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+0:46 The referee blows for half time.
  • 44:55 Unfair challenge on Emilio Izaguirre by Steven Whittaker results in a free kick. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick.
  • 44:32 A cross is delivered by Madjid Bougherra, clearance by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 43:01 The assistant referee signals for offside against Georgios Samaras. Indirect free kick taken by Madjid Bougherra.
  • 42:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Maurice Edu by Georgios Samaras. Free kick taken by Steven Whittaker.
  • 39:45 The ball is swung over by Steven Whittaker.
  • 38:15 Steven Naismith has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
  • 37:53 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by El-Hadji Diouf, clearance made by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 37:01 Maurice Edu fouled by Joe Ledley, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Steven Whittaker, Joe Ledley makes a clearance.
  • 33:41 Nikica Jelavic takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
  • 30:30 Kris Commons produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.
  • 29:57 Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by David Weir results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 28:52 Booking Beram Kayal goes into the referee's book.
  • 28:39 Booking El-Hadji Diouf shown a yellow card.
  • 27:36 Assist by Emilio Izaguirre.
  • 27:36 GOAL – Gary Hooper:Celtic 2 – 0 Rangers Gary Hooper scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 2-0 Rangers.
  • 26:01 Mark Wilson fouled by El-Hadji Diouf, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Kris Commons.
  • 21:35 The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Hooper. Indirect free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
  • 21:03 David Weir challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Majstorovic restarts play with the free kick.
  • 20:27 Effort on goal by Nikica Jelavic from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
  • 19:22 Joe Ledley is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
  • 16:42 Assist by Kris Commons.
  • 16:42 GOAL – Gary Hooper:Celtic 1 – 0 Rangers Gary Hooper finds the net with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Rangers.
  • 12:40 A cross is delivered by Steven Whittaker.
  • 10:41 Kris Commons takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by David Weir.
  • 10:15 Steven Whittaker produces a cross, clearance by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 9:40 Maurice Edu fouled by Georgios Samaras, the ref awards a free kick. Maurice Edu takes the free kick.
  • 5:57 Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line.
  • Correction – 5:12 Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line.
  • 5:12 Outswinging corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf,
  • 4:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Emilio Izaguirre. Allan McGregor takes the free kick.
  • 2:50 Kyle Bartley challenges Scott Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kris Commons fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
  • 2:50 Booking Kyle Bartley booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 0:00 The match begins.