Scottish Premier League - Match Review: Glasgow Celtic versus Glasgow Rangers
Two goals from Kenny Miller helped Rangers to a second-half fight back as they won the first Old Firm derby of the season 3-1 at Celtic.
It was Gary Hooper who helped Celtic ahead on the stroke of half-time but Rangers responded in typical fashion as a Glenn Looven’s own-goal and a Kenny Miller double helped Walter Smith’s side maintain their 100 per cent league
record this season and their fourth Scottish Premier League comeback win on the trot.
As always there was some controversy in the hotly contested Glasgow as referee Willie Collum was conned into awarding a penalty to Celtic when substitute Kirk Broadfoot dived into Daniel Majstorovic to give away a cheap foul. Kenny
Miller converted the penalty to make it 3-1 within the first 24 minutes of the match.
The match was played at breakneck pace throughout as referee Collum - in the spotlight on his Old Firm debut - did well to keep a handle on it until his misjudgment for Rangers’ third goal. Collum had to show a card in the first
minute of the match as Celtic’s Anthony Stokes launched a nasty tackle into the ankle of Sasa Papac.
In truth it could have been red, as could have the yellow shown to Ranger’s midfielder Lee McCulloch for a two-footed tackle on Emilio Izaguirre. With players surrounding the referee over every minor foul, and the home fans howling
every possible decision that went Celtic’s way, it appeared Collum was the only calm head on the pitch, with the exception of David Weir and Madjid Bougherra, who made come vital interceptions for Rangers.
Otherwise, and despite the attacking intent of both sides, chances were rare. McCulloch’s foul came seconds after team-mate Steven Whittaker hit the post following a poor defensive header from Majstorovic, the first and last real
opportunity before Celtic took the lead in first-half injury time. Celtic had won four corners in a row before Ki Sung-yueng finally got it right, his flat, vicious delivery skimming off the head of Whittaker and landing to Hooper, who took a touch off his
chest before lashing it in at the far post.
Rangers had come from behind to win their last three SPL games and, early in the second half, they showed just why. A wicked free-kick from Steven Davis was almost un-defendable, Lafferty meeting the high, far-post delivery to
send a low ball across that went in off hapless defender Loovens. It was 2-1 eight minutes later as Naismith capitalized on a dreadful clearance from Fraser Forster, slipping a superb first-time pass to Maurice Edu, the American flicking it wide to the unmarked
Miller who made no mistake with a low driven finish.
Miller put the game beyond Celtic with a cracking penalty off the inside of the post but there was a heavy dose of controversy as Broadfoot hurled himself at the static leg of Majstorovic. Collum, who only half-faced the action
as he was on the turn following Broadfoot’s heavy touch, had otherwise been excellent but he bought the dive and pointed to the spot.
Miller took the spot kick and made no mistake as he claimed his seventh goal in 11 Old Firm derbies. Celtic responded well, with Ki forcing a smart save from Allan McGregor with a superb free-kick, but Rangers had shut up shop
and for all of their possession the hosts mostly tested McGregor with meat-and-drink catches from high balls.
The Scotland keeper did have to be at his acrobatic best to tip over Joe Ledley’s rising drive but Rangers were never really in danger as they made it nine wins in nine this season, With the loss to Rangers, Celtic are now three
points behind the league leaders with most of the season to go, the Hoops won't consider the loss much of a set back but as always the old firm clashes are morale draining ones.
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