Rangers 0-2 Celtic,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yeahbaby !

[yogi]

Georgios Samaras scored twice to give Celtic a deserved victory over Rangers that stretched the visitors' lead to four points in the league table.

Rangers were denied a fifth-minute lead when Emilio Izaguirre deflected a Lee McCulloch header off the crossbar.

But Celtic took control after the break and Samaras rounded goalkeeper Allan McGregor to score after 62 minutes.

The second came eight minutes later when Samaras was pulled down by Madjid Bougherra and scored with the penalty.

Reigning champions Rangers responded but could not prevent Celtic claiming their first victory on their Old Firm rivals' patch since December 2008.

And it was revenge for a side beaten 3-1 the last time they met their Glasgow neighbours, at Celtic Park in October.

An emotional day at Ibrox was ensured by an impeccably observed minute's silence to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster that led to the death of 66 people at the Old Firm derby on 2 January 1971.

Led out by famous captains John Greig and Billy McNeill, the respective sides had a chance to become modern legends.

But Celtic fans looking forward to the first sight of Freddie Ljungberg in the green and white hoops were left disappointed as the former Arsenal and Sweden winger had picked up a virus.

Manager Neil Lennon was also without suspended captain Scott Brown and the injured Olivier Kapo, along with striker Daryl Murphy, as he was forced to reshuffle his midfield.

Rangers' Walter Smith also was forced into a change after Steven Naismith failed a fitness test and 19-year-old Jamie Ness was given his first start at the heart of midfield.

It was Rangers' reshuffled pack that exerted early control and almost took the lead after five minutes following a corner won after Ness played a classy cross-field ball to Steven Whittaker.

Vladimir Weiss's cross was flicked on by McCulloch and Celtic left-back Izaguirre managed to head the ball off the line and clear via the underside of the crossbar.

Both sides were playing a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Weiss and Paddy McCourt playing behind their respective strikers, and it was the latter who almost proved to have the greater influence despite the more evident trickery of the Slovakian.

The Northern Irishman's fine through ball into the penalty box found James Forrest, who had come into the side along with Beram Kayal, Charlie Mulgrew and Samaras, and forced a goal-saving tackle from McCulloch.

It was now a more even contest with lone strikers Kenny Miller and Samaras, whose inclusion meant that Anthony Stokes dropped to the bench, being starved of ammunition as the half-time whistle blew.

Samaras set up the best chance of the match within seconds after the break, his flicked header finding McCourt racing into the box, but the winger fired his drive wide of the far post under pressure from David Weir.

Just as Rangers looked to have settled after early Celtic pressure, the visitors took the lead after goalkeeper McGregor sold himself after a long ball over the top of the defence from Joe Ledley found Samaras.

Samaras flicked the ball past McGregor and rolled the ball into the empty net and the Greek was soon celebrating a second.

The striker beat Ness for pace then was clipped by Bougherra's lazy leg as he turned inside the Algeria defender before stepping up to beat McGregor from the penalty spot.

Rangers, so subdued and reliant on aimless high balls until that point, suddenly responded and Sasa Papac sent a low drive just wide of the far post then Bougherra volleyed over from 16 yards.

However, Celtic held out comfortably - and came close again from Ledley and Samaras - to leave Rangers requiring wins in their two games in hand to overtake their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premier League.


Live text and stats


Sunday, 2 January 2011

Scottish Premier

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Rangers 0-2 Celtic FT
(HT 0-0)
Samaras 62
Samaras (pen) 70


Hide team line-ups and match stats
Rangers
01 McGregor
03 Weir
05 Papac
12 Foster (Lafferty 68 yellow card)
16 Whittaker
24 Bougherrayellow card
06 McCulloch
08 Davis
20 Weiss
40 Ness (Hutton 84)
09 Miller
Substitutes
25 Alexander, 22 Webster, 10 Fleck, 11 Lafferty, 19 Beattie, 28 Kerkar, 41 Hutton Celtic
26 Forster
03 Izaguirre
05 Majstorovic
12 Wilsonyellow card
21 Mulgrewyellow card
25 Rogne
16 Ledley
20 McCourt
33 Baram Kayalyellow card
09 Samarasyellow card
49 Forrest (McGinn 88)
Substitutes
24 Zaluska, 04 Juarez, 06 Hooiveld, 31 Towell, 14 McGinn, 17 Crosas, 10 Stokes

Abit late guys on the post, I have been on holidays but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,stiff sh it. Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhbaby,
wohooooooooooooooooooooooo.

[DOC]

HAIL HAIL

[yogi]

did you watch it Doc ?

[DOC]

did you watch it Doc ?

course mate, fucking loved it

[web]

HAIL HAIL

a great start to the new year

[DOC]

5 points clear as well and i think the next old firm is only a month away

HAIL HAIL

[cole_trickle]

5 points clear as well and i think the next old firm is only a month away

HAIL HAIL

4 points clear and rangers have 2 games in hand

[Culprit878]

Georgios Samaras scored twice to give Celtic a deserved victory over Rangers that stretched the visitors' lead to four points in the league table.

He had an awesome game. Had to be a impostor!!!
Nevertheless I am happy with the result.

[DOC]

5 points clear as well and i think the next old firm is only a month away

HAIL HAIL

4 points clear and rangers have 2 games in hand

the way the league has gone this year anything could happen in those 2 games

[Knight7]

Game of 2 halves Celtic way to good in second half seemed to want it more

[Salpigidis]

big sam is a star!

[Knight7]

Well 2-2 last night wonder where MG is with that bus, looked like it was parked in front of the Rangers goal. Celtic with 10 men completey dominated second half. Great to see Naismith get sent off for an outrageous dive

Just read McCoists Post Match comments - credit where credit is due, one of the fairest Post Match comments I've read in a long time - well done for his refreshing honesty

[DOC]

Well 2-2 last night wonder where MG is with that bus, looked like it was parked in front of the Rangers goal. Celtic with 10 men completey dominated second half. Great to see Naismith get sent off for an outrageous dive

Just read McCoists Post Match comments - credit where credit is due, one of the fairest Post Match comments I've read in a long time - well done for his refreshing honesty

mccoist has always been ok to us post playing career, was a cunt to us when playing scoring all those goals , better than provan and burley...

will be good to have him and lennon go head to head next season

[yogi]

Hail,Hail,the Celts are here...................................

What a performance lads. having our keeper sent off and down to 10 men and 2-1 down at the time,
to come back and dominate the game and get the equaliser was nothing more than brilliant.

Hail,Hail...................and bring them on again.

[BTAC]

Hail,Hail,the Celts are here...................................

What a performance lads. having our keeper sent off and down to 10 men and 2-1 down at the time,
to come back and dominate the game and get the equaliser was nothing more than brilliant.Hail,Hail...................and bring them on again.

[bapa]

i have a soft spot for the "hoops", but i hate Rangers more!