Boiling point

Rangers 2 - Celtic 0 Klos Khizanishvilli Andrews Boumsong Vignal Namouchi Ricksen Rae Lovenkrands Prso Novo Hedman Valgaeren Balde Varga McNamara Petrov Lennon Thompson Sutton Camara Hartson Subs: Arveladze for Lovenkrands 45, Ball for Vignal 58, Malcolm for Khizanishvilli 71.

Not used: Smith, Thompson, Hutton, MacKenzie.

Booked: Rae 37, Lovenkrands 37, Khizanishvilli 70.

Referee: K Clark Subs: Pearson for Camara 46, McGeady for Petrov 78.

Not used: Marshall, Juninho, Lambert, Wallace, Lawson.

Booked: Camara 32, Sutton 34, 54, Lennon 37, McNamara 84 Sent off: Thompson 37, Sutton 54 Attendance: 50,043

CHAMPIONSHIP on. An explosive game of doubtful technical merit ended with Rangers closing the Premierleague gap on Celtic to one point. Those who felt recent Old Firm games had been too tepid got their money's worth here.

The visitors, who had Alan Thompson sent off in the first half and Chris Sutton in the 54th minute, lost their heads after conceding the second goal, scored by Dado Prso. Thompson may feel hard done by as there seemed to be minimal contact with Peter Lovenkrands, but other Celtic players invited a similar fate and can be thankful that referee Kenny Clark treated them indulgently.

Rangers, for whom a defeat would have left them seven points behind the champions, started the game as if only too aware of the consequences of such an outcome. Time after time the ball was passed to a Celtic player, but in the 15th minute the visiting defence contrived to hand Rangers the confidence boost they needed.

A through ball was sailing harmlessly towards Magnus Hedman, preferred ahead of David Marshall in the Celtic goal, when Bobo Balde decided unnecessarily to head it. The error of judgment was compounded when the clearance fell perfectly for Hamed Namouchi and he fed Nacho Novo just inside the Celtic box.

Even so there was no imminent danger, but Joos Valgaeren chopped down the little striker who only on Friday was given an SFA reprieve from the red card he was shown against Hibernian. Penalty, said Clark, and Novo sent an expertly executed kick to his right beyond the diving Hedman.

There was an inevitability that Novo would score at some stage of the proceedings, but to find the net so unexpectedly early was a huge lift to the home side.

Even before the goal there were signs, such as the spat between Jackie McNamara and Novo, who also exchanged endearments with Neil Lennon, that this game would turn nasty. McNamara was extremely fortunate not to be shown a yellow card for a crude foul on Ricksen, but even within the Celtic camp there were indications of disharmony with McNamara and Camara bickering.

Just after the half hour it all started to kick off.

Alex Rae made a saving tackle on Camara for a corner, but whatever sparked off his sense of injustice the Celtic striker got up on his feet and aimed a punch at the back of Rae's head. Incredibly, he escaped with a yellow card, while Rangers themselves had a reprieve when Stan Varga headed just wide.

Chris Sutton, having an ineffective game just behind the strikers, was on defensive duties when he was then booked for a lunge on Rae. The free-kick was taken by Fernando Ricksen and floated towards Prso, who, despite the close attentions of the Celtic defence, sent a looping header over Hedman to put his side two up.

Cue, in the 37th minute, madness. Lovenkrands fouled McNamara, and Thompson stupidly squared up to the Rangers left midfielder. He appeared to do little more than nuzzle his forehead against Lovenkrand's, but the Dane went down as if he had been slapped by Scott Harrison. This, in turn, incited a mass confrontation, with all the usual suspects involved.

When the red mist had cleared a card of the same colour was shown to Thompson, while Lovenkrands, Rae and Lennon were all booked. The fans who like their meat raw were getting plenty to sink their teeth into, and Camara was again fortunate when he kicked out at Gregory Vignal near the end of the half.

Martin O'Neill accepted the futility of keeping Camara on the pitch when he replaced him with Stephen Pearson after the interval and sent Sutton forward to give Hartson a more effective foil. Alas for the Celtic manager, even this 10-man plan was torn to shreds in the 54th minute.

Any hope Celtic had of salvaging a draw ended when Sutton handled the ball inside the Rangers box. It was a measure of the poor quality of the game that only inept defending by Marvin Andrews allowed him to be near the ball, but having touched it his fate was sealed and Celtic were reduced to nine.

The changed circumstances took much of the sting out of the game, with Celtic outnumbered and the home side able to coast. Prso squandered two great opportunities while at the other end a Stilian Petrov effort was well saved by Klos.

There was still time for unpleasantness, though, with Novo stamping on Pearson's head and Lennon pursuing a vendetta against Ricksen.

McNamara could have got a second yellow when he lashed out at Shota Arveladze, and although the result has a huge bearing on the course of the championship, this was an afternoon when football took second place to controversy.

fast football Fair result? Yes, although Celtic's efforts in gifting Rangers a penalty allowed the home side to settle after a jittery first 15 minutes. The visitors' indiscipline cost them dearly.

Entertainment value: Not by any stretch of the imagination a flowing game of football and the standard of passing very poor. But the passion of both sides produced many moments of controversy.

Talking point: Take your pick. Did Alan Thompson deserve to be sent off for the incident with Peter Lovenkrands? Should Henri Camara also have been dismissed for punching Alex Rae? Overall, referee Kenny Clark baffled with some of his decisions.

Man of the match: Fernando Ricksen had a very influential game and managed to retain his composure in the face of provocation.

Alex McLeish: "We still have to prove we can finish above Celtic. There's a long way to go, a lot of points to be won and lost."

Martin O'Neill: "Rangers gained an advantage by winning today, but even if we'd beaten them the league would not have been over. It looks like it's going to be another 2003."

HOW THEY PLAYED

RANGERS Stefan Klos Was blissfully uninvolved for much of the afternoon but reacted admirably when required, saving from Balde and, impressively, from Petrov.

Fernando Ricksen Kept his cool, even after Lennon's attempts at winding him up. Composed in midfield and later at right-back.

Jean-Alain Boumsong Another excellent performance, holding together a Rangers' back four rarely troubled by Celtic even before the red cards.

Marvin Andrews Wonderful timing for first half tackle on Hartson. Steady with Boumsong and only one wobble, when he came close to scoring an own goal.

Alex Rae Inspirational man of the match performance and, although, booked, was a steady influence in the heart of midfield for Rangers.

Dado Prso One of his best games for Rangers. Not continually involved, but a consistent menace whenever he was.

Nacho Novo Quick reactions forced Joos Valgaeren into a rash challenge for the penalty and opening goal, which Novo buried confidently.

Zurab Khizanishvili Some fine defensive play undermined by wasteful use of ball to team-mates. Overhit pass for opener but saved by Balde's mistake.

Gregory VignalI Received standing ovation from supporters when he was substituted in the second half. Energy and drive down the left troubled Celtic.

Peter Lovenkrands Anonymous, yet involved in the major flashpoint, going down theatrically when Alan Thompson brushed against his face.

Hamed Namouchi Showed a quick reaction to knock Balde's poor clearance immediately on to Novo at the opening goal, but faded out of the game.

SUBS: Shota Arveladze Came on for Lovenkrands and threatened with a header. Michael Ball Replaced Vignal in 58 and untroubled by Celtic's nine men.

CELTIC Magnus Hedman Dived the correct way for Novo penalty but the shot was too accurate for him. Made two good saves from Prso in the second half.

Joos Valgaeren Needlessly chopped Novo down in box to give Rangers their penalty. Otherwise one of Celtic's better players in his right back role.

Bobo Balde What was he thinking when, under no pressure, he headed the ball straight to Namouchi? Penalty followed and had a stinker generally.

Stan Varga Managed to retain composure when all around were losing theirs. Had to mop up the many errors made by his central defensive partner.

Jackie McNamara Extremely lucky not to be booked for bad first half foul on Ricksen. Cautioned in the second half and lucky not to be off.

Stan Petrov Isolated at times, but easily the classiest Celtic player. Badly let down by his hot-tempered team-mates.

Neil Lennon A snarling performance, and involved in countless feuds. Really lost the plot in the second half when he tried to incite Ricksen.

Alan Thompson Tried to get Celtic moving forward on the left with good link play to McNamara, but let his side down when sent off in the 37th minute.

Chris Sutton An unhappy afternoon capped by his own dismissal in the second half. Looked out of sorts both mentally and physically.

John Hartson Tried his hardest but was left on his own up front for most of the second half. For all the support he got in the first he was alone then too.

Henri Camara Could have been sent off twice in the first half, first for a punch on Rae and later for a kick at Vignal. Unsurprisingly subbed at half-time.

SUBS: Stephen Pearson came on for Camara at the start of the second half but looks to have lost his confidence and is a shadow of last season's player.

Copyright 2004 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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