Rangers 1 Celtic 0: match report

By Roddy Forsyth at Ibrox Published: 7:00AM GMT 01 March 2010

My point is: Rangers" Lee McCulloch argues with arbitrate Dougie McDonald during the SPL compare opposite Celtic at Ibrox Photo: PA

Ibrox was a control of fright for most of the afternoon, as a result the series of passes unnoticed at consequential moments and options shunned when event beckoned.

That was frequency a wonder. How most of a patrol there is subsequent deteriorate - and of what peculiarity - hangs on the result of the SPL pretension competition and the accompanying prerogative of on trial entrance to the organisation theatre of the Champions League, a perk on suggest for the last time for the foreseeable future. Edu and his colleagues competence not be au fait with the accurate mercantile sum but they positively learn the chastisement for failure.

Keane fit for Old Firm diversion No mental disorder at Celtic, says Mowbray Sport on radio Rangers cling to on for attainment at St Mirren to keep SPL pretension competition alive Fans usually sing when youre winning, says Celtic physical education instructor Gordon Strachan David Murray is supervising a clever shelter over Rangers ambitions

As do the Rangers fans, that is since their elation at full time went over the prevalent gloating and derisive destined towards whoever loses the ultimate hitch in this endless, critical strife. They would have staid for a pull but when Sasa Papac forced Arur Boruc in to palming his shot afar for a dilemma in the third and last notation of combined time, the home throng scented the probability of an forever some-more delightful outcome.

Any dilemma flog opposite Celtic is a means for stress for the Hoops counterclaim and this was Rangers" ninth of the afternoon - Celtic managed zero - yet, as he confessed afterwards, Tony Mowbray comforted himself in the visitors" cave with the thought that one plain header out of the chastisement box would see the diversion to the finish. Not for the initial time this season, however, the attainment eluded his players.

Madjid Bougherra, who had ambled upfield to addition Rangers" threat, got there initial with an bid that Boruc blocked, but could not hold. Kris Boyd snapped on to the lax round and again the goalkeeper foiled but clutching. The miscarry fell to Edu, inches from the line â€" one small step for a footballer, one hulk jump for Rangers Football Club.

It competence have been a narcotic impulse for Celtic, but no analgesic could have dulled the suffering of the protest they gimlet via the last entertain of the jot down after Scott Brown was dismissed.

Mowbray had gambled the endowment of the captaincy to a player with a incendiary temper, in the goal that the improved angel of his inlet would be coaxed in to prominence.

The manager"s prerogative was to see a prosy throw for receive finish with Brown pulling his head in to Kyle Lafferty"s chest. From a area it looked value zero some-more than a engagement - if that - but Dougie McDonald ruled aroused control and constructed a red label that Celtic will as if appeal, small joy though that competence bring.

A distinguished piece of of Celtic"s hierarchy last week leaked headlines of a censure from the bar to the SFA about refereeing standards in prior derbies this season, with the goal of putting McDonald underneath combined vigour in this one. Mowbray competence have been fit in leaping from his chair with a cry of â€⃜Can I be piece of the mental disorder now, please?", but Celtic should postponement to consternation how counterproductive their ploy competence have been.

Mind you, if they wish to rail opposite McDonald"s performance, Celtic can cite his craziness in carrying cautioned Bougherra for clattering Robbie Keane but adding no serve permit when the Algerian committed the same bureau after in the initial half.

At any rate, Brown"s depart forced Celtic on to the behind feet since Mowbray had been about to reinstate Marc Antoine Fortune with Thomas Rasmussen, a brazen for a forward. Instead, he had to serve Ki Sung Yong from the dais to strut his midfield, a tactic that came inside of seconds of achieving a draw.

As it is, the contingency are right away built opposite Celtic, who contingency benefit a point per compare on Rangers in their eleven superfluous fixtures â€" and even that does not concede for the leaders" diversion in palm opposite St Johnstone.

In all likelihood, crowds will dump and disenchantment will reverberate around Celtic Park for what stays of the season. Meanwhile, the selling department"s attempts to sell the bar to a wider assembly were nonetheless again undermined by a beggarly arrangement of disregard from their await during the minute"s overpower for the former Rangers goalkeeper, Gerry Neef, who died last week.

Neef"s ultimate successor, Allan McGregor, finished a violent week by saving Celtic"s most appropriate dual efforts â€" shots from the differently still Keane â€" to emphasize that his proven capability to extent repairs in his 18-yard- box has positively no together in the Chaucerian landscape of a pale in isolation hold up that was nonetheless again chronicled yesterday in the journals of carnal record.