2017-03-12: Celtic 1-1 TheRangers, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2016 – 2017 | 2016-17 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic drop points in the league for only the second time this season, both draws.
• Back to the league
• Celtic long winning run stops at this point, 28 domestic wins, but unbeaten run continues
• Referee was seen as very poor, with some questionable decisions. Two clear penalties should have gone Celtic's way, and at least 2-3 Sevco players were lucky not to be red carded. Some very bad refereeing. The free kick that led to Sevco's goal was not a free kick.
• Celtic drawn v TheRangers in semi-finals of the Scottish Cup; Celtic going for the treble, and league is already in the bag (still to be mathematically wrapped up) and League Cup is already won.
• Craig Gordon signs new contract to stay at Celtic till 2020.
• Celtic mostly full strength, only Rogic & Forrest out injured.
• TheRangers missing two notably players: Garner & Kiernan. Kenny Miller is stuck in contract talks.
• Lisbon Lions: Funeral of ex-Celt (& legend) Tommy Gemmell held on Friday past. RIP
• Sevco appoint a new manager, Portuges guy: Pedro Caixinha. When he was in Mexico he gave an interview congratulating 'our brothers Celtic' (he was working with a Celtic tied side there).
• Daily Record starts a witch hunt against a Celtic Ball Girl for appearing tohavesworn at a Sevco player. Out of order from the paper, and it's nothing compared to the bile coming from the Sevco away support.

Review

(TheHuman Torpedo of TheCelticWiki)
As poor a 90 minutes as we've played all season. We lacked tempo and movement and as a result were frequently ineffective in possession. When on the ball we were slow both physically and mentally. There was virtually zero creativity offered. On a number of occasions we had free kicks inside the Rangers half which ended up being played back to an under pressure Gordon. Bizarre. Maybe it was complacency but we seemed unable or unwilling to take charge of the game. No matter how poor the opposition you have to work for the win. We didn't do that.

Individually all the big names were anonymous. Pass marks only for Gordon – a couple of excellent stops – and Tierney. I understand the reluctance to replace potential match winners like Dembele and Sinclair but the manager got it wrong with the Griffiths-Armstrong switch. Happy to see Griff come on but Armstrong's absence left a hole in midfield which allowed them to take control at a crucial stage.

Rangers never looked anything other than workman like. They offered plenty of effort but very little quality. Madden was by far their biggest asset. The equaliser came from a non free kick while for 90 minutes persistant fouling was allowed to become a legitimate tactic. But that's how it is.

Complacency is our biggest enemy. Add in the ref factor and Celtic's unrivalled historic record of shooting ourselves in the foot and the arrogance of 6-0, 7-0 predictions can be seen for the folly they are. Unless we approach every game with the right attitude and focus then even teams as poor as Rangers will give us a game. Hopefully today will be a wake up call ahead of the Cup semi-final. A big reaction is needed.

(fatboab of KDS)
Poor performance from Celtic, especially in the second half, although the loss of Bitton and Armstrong didn't help. They played as well as they can, and we won't be that bad again, so a draw is reasonably fair. Waghorn missed two sitters that will have them believing they are better than they are, and another cheating referee gave them all he could. The penalty decision at the end was as predictable as it was wrong.

Very poor performances from Svietchenko, Sinclair and Dembele didn't help us, and we seemed to run our of steam at 75 minutes, but then finished stronger.
Mildly concerned that Rodgers obviously didn't fancy Kouassi even when we were two midfielders down.

Not complaining though, we got what we deserved and a heads up for what we need to do in the cup game.

(Corky B of KDS)
Poor overall- took control after 25 minutes and deserved to be ahead at halftime. Dominated the first part of the second half but the Armstrong substitution was a mistake and they were then first to the second balls. Wasn't helped by Madden giving them everything in that spell. Btw its our pitch so can we stop complaining about it.

Gordon – 7 Had a good game
Lustig – 6 Dealt with McKay OK but poor going forward
Boyata – 5 Nervy with a mistake that better strikers would have buried
Sviatchenko – 4 poor game
Tierney – 6 Always willing but have seen him play a lot better
Brown – 6 Good in bits still careless in possession
Briton – 5 was OK but thought McGregor was better
Armstrong – 7 Best outfield player and a baffling substitution if NOT injured
Forrest – 6 OK best if the front three but that's not saying much
Dembele – 5 Didn't hide but was very poor. A striker not having the best of days has also to learn when NOT to be a greedy ba$tard
Sinclair – 3 Very surprised to be writing this but was the worst player on the park
McGregor – started second half well but faded
Roberts – 3 poor did nothing
Griffiths – 4 should have had a penalty but was pretty invisible as our midfield disappeared with his arrival
Rodger – 5 has correctly earned all sorts of plaudits but today wasn't his best.

Felt we were far too cocky before the game and it showed. Am not seething but I hope today is the reality check. Having said all of the above, hands up if you think Madden would have waived away the penalty claims at the other end.

(TinyTim81 of KDS)
1. We still have two more opportunities to thrash them
2. This squad has been nothing short of exceptional domestically. They were off the boil today because they're human beings. Nothing more to it than that.
3. If we win the semi final it means that Celtic have personally eliminated Sevco from every competition they competed for in the 2016/2017 season. I don't think that ever happened in the past with old Rangers.
4. The ref was the most disgraceful that I have ever seen in a single Scottish match.
5. We're still on course to go the whole season unbeaten
6. Sevco and their supporters have sunk so low in their expecations that the players are now celebrating a last minute draw with a team that just eliminated them from the title race like it was the world cup final.

Enjoy these times. They're special

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

Celtic
Rangers

Articles

Celtic 1 – 1 Rangers: Clint Hill’s late strike ends Celts’ winning run
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/celtic-1-1-rangers-clint-hill-s-late-strike-ends-celts-winning-run-1-4390087
12/03/17 LADBROKES PREMIERSHIP CELTIC v RANGERS CELTIC PARK – GLASGOW Celtic's Scott Brown (left) with Martyn Waghorn
Rangers left it late, but became only the second team to prevent Celtic from winning a domestic game thanks to Clint Hill’s late equaliser, with new boss Pedro Caixinha watching on from the stands.
Celtic appeared to be moving 36 points ahead of Rangers and a step closer to being confirmed as Ladbrokes Premiership champions thanks to Stuart Armstrong’s first-half strike.

Both sets of fans created a raucous atmosphere. Picture: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire
But Celtic’s run of 28 domestic wins was ended when Hill tapped in at the back post following a great Craig Gordon save as the match headed towards stoppage time.
Rangers were clearly fired up following a strenuous build-up to the fixture, with predictions of a possible record scoreline.. But they started on the front foot in a compact 4-4-1-1 formation.
As early as the sixth minute it was clear to see Celtic’s unease at the physicality and tempo of their opponents. Erik Sviatchenko, perhaps underestimating the pace of the fixture, dallied on the ball allowing Waghorn to pick his pocket. The Celtic defender could only pull him back to concede a free–kick in a dangerous area.
It set the tone for a positive, energetic opening 30 minutes for the Ibrox side. They were snapping into challenges, working as a unit to move forward as well as backwards to shut off any space for Celtic to exploit. Both sides were guilty of late challenges, such is the nature of derby matches in Scotland.
Brendan Rodgers’ men were best when they went long to Moussa Demblele. The French striker got in behind twice, fluffing a chance straight at Wes Foderingham before poor control cost him a chance to get an effort away.
The goal Rangers’ play deserved should have arrived in the 24th minute. A Sviatchenko header was returned towards Kenny Miller by Danny Wilson. The 37-year-old got the lightest touch on the ball to send it past Dedryck Boyata into the path of Waghorn.
The 27-year-old was face to face with Craig Gordon, but opting for power rather than finesse, his well-hit strike was diverted away by Gordon’s large left foot.
It looked like Rangers would be made to rue that miss four minutes later, only for Armstrong’s central free-kick to cannon off the base of Wes Foderingham’s left-hand post.
Armstrong wouldn’t be denied in the 35th minute, however.
Jason Holt intercepted a pass towards the midfielder on the edge of the Celtic box. But his clearance was scuffed off his right foot, rolling backwards to James Forrest. Forrest, realising Holt had vacated Armstrong as he faced Lee Wallace up inside the Celtic box, slipped the ball back to the former Dundee United man.
Armstrong moved the ball from under his feet and ripped a left-footed shot past the despairing dive of Foderingham into the bottom corner to send the home fans into raptures and give Celtic the half-time lead.
Rangers, again, started the brighter after the interval, forcing Celtic back towards their goal. Waghorn was continuing his unnerving of Sviatchenko.
Little came of their brief spell of pressure and it was Armstrong who almost extended Celtic’s lead on 56 minutes.
Scott Sinclair, for so long on the periphery of the game, drove infield from the left wing. With three Rangers players surrounding him he provided a reverse pass to pick out Armstrong. The midfielder’s zipped effort was pushed wide by Foderingham.
Two minuntes later a Danny Wilson error allowed Dembele to charge towards goal. The striker could only tamely roll the ball towards Foderingham with team-mates better placed.
Bigger spaces were now opening up between the Rangers lines as they tired and Celtic went up the gears. The home side found a crispness to their passing and a second-wind to their pressing to win the ball back quicker than they did in the first half.
Armstrong was proving a key player as he tested Foderingham again with a sweeping long range effort which had to be clawed out, away from the top corner.
A simple long ball down Celtic’s right side allowed Miller to scamper free on the 71st minute. Waghorn, who had been down with an injury, was originally in an offside position but as soon as Miller got onto the ball he was onside.
Miller’s centre was perfect but Gordon was alert to the danger, closing down the Rangers striker and blocking the shot with his knee.
As the match entered the last 10 minutes, Celtic were almost left fuming. A Holt tackle on substitute Patrick Roberts was deemed as fair by referee Bobby Madden. Holt proceeded to edge into the box before curling a shot narrowly past Gordon’s far post.
Dembele should have secured the three points in the 85th minute when latching on to a fine Leigh Griffiths, on in place of Armstrong, pass. He turned Wilson inside and out before flashing his shot across goal.
Then, it happened.
Composed play from James Tavernier set up Emerson Hyndman who had been left free on the edge of the box. His turn and shot appeared to be arrowing into the bottom corner only to be denied by Gordon. However, the Scotland keeper could only palm it into the path of Hill to equalise.
It led to a frenetic end as Celtic pushed for a winner. Claims for a penalty following Hill’s challenge on Griffiths were waved away by Madden.

BBC
By Richard Wilson

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

2 hours ago From the section Football

Rangers' Clint Hill fires the equaliser against Celtic
Clint Hill scored Rangers' equaliser at Celtic Park

Clint Hill's late equaliser denied runaway Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic a fourth victory of the season over city rivals Rangers.

Rangers, with caretaker Graeme Murty in charge for the last time and new manager Pedro Caixinha in the stand, started the game impressively.

But Stuart Armstrong fired Celtic into a first-half lead.

Both sides had chances before Hill prodded in with three minutes left to deny Celtic an 18th straight win.

Another win would have made it 23 in succession in the league for Brendan Rodgers' side, but Rangers become the first side to deny them victory since Manchester City in a Champions League game in December.

And, with Aberdeen having beaten Motherwell on Saturday, third-placed Rangers are eight points adrift of the Dons, who themselves are 25 behind the champions.
Armstrong imperious
Celtic's Stuart Armstrong (right) celebrates
Stuart Armstrong (right) put Celtic ahead in the Glasgow derby

Armstrong's goal – his 11th of the season – was a combination of resourcefulness and power.

Jason Holt contributed to Celtic's opening, since he clumsily failed to clear with his weaker left foot, but when the ball was worked to Armstrong on the edge of the area, it was not a clear scoring opportunity.

He has been dismissing expectations all season though – and, after turning towards goal, he rifled a low, hard shot into the near corner of the net.

More illustrious players – Moussa Dembele, Scott Sinclair, Scott Brown – have hogged attention for Celtic this season, but Armstrong has purposefully and, with growing assurance, built a growing reputation.

Rangers answered critics – Murty
Celtic denied clear penalty – Rodgers
Player ratings

Rodgers urged him to play at a higher tempo, to understand the need to forage and hustle as well as being accomplished on the ball.

Armstrong responded and he has become an integral figure for Celtic – and likely a fixture now in the Scotland squad.

He might have scored at other moments in the game, with his first-half free-kick tipped on to the upright by the diving Wes Foderingham and the goalkeeper pushing away two fiercely struck efforts after the break.
Rangers rely on organisation
Rangers caretaker Graeme Murty celebrates
Graeme Murty ends his spell as caretaker manager with three wins, one draw and two defeats

The visitors did not have an individual player to match the calibre of Celtic's various potential match-winners – and the Rangers bench contained only one player, Josh Windass, who has impressed this season.

Yet their positional discipline and work-rate was designed to limit Celtic and provide the means for Rangers to try to be proactive.

The shape was 4-4-1-1 when Rangers were without the ball, as Kenny Miller dropped off the front to close down Nir Bitton, Celtic's holding midfielder.

James Tavernier tucked into a central midfield role when Rangers had possession, allowing Miller to join Waghorn and the ineffectual Barrie McKay up front.

With passing angles closed down and a disciplined press, Rangers earned a foothold in the game.

It also delivered a breakthrough when Miller flicked a high ball on to Waghorn, who was left one-on-one with Gordon.

The striker was not clinical enough, though, and the Scotland goalkeeper saved with his legs.

The scoreline was 0-0 at the time and there was a key moment after the break also.

Having been caught by Gordon as the goalkeeper punched a cross clear, Waghorn was left upfield unmarked as he recovered.

When a counter-attack broke upfield, Waghorn found himself onside and in the penalty area, but Gordon blocked his first-time shot.
Rangers' perseverance pays off
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha at Celtic Park
Pedro Caixinha applauded his new side from the stand

Celtic have been more dominant in games this season, but they would have felt that their command of the scoreline was enough in this game.

Dembele, who was otherwise unusually quiet, almost scored late on, but his left-foot effort flashed across the face of goal.

The closing stages, though, were mostly about Rangers pushing and probing for an equaliser.

That told of their determination, and Holt caused a flash of alarm for the home side when his curled effort bounced just wide.

The pressure eventually paid off, though, when Hill was the first to react after Gordon pushed Hyndman's shot away and the defender turned the ball into the net at the back post.

The drama was not over though as, moments later, Leigh Griffiths felt he should have been awarded a penalty under a Hill challenge inside the area and then had a shot headed off the line.