Celtic 1 Rangers 0
|
| Celtic's Henrik Larsson tries to evade the attentions of Ranger's Scott Wilson at Parkhead. (© Allsport) |
By Noel O’Reilly
Celtic have beaten Rangers 1-0 this afternoon to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points and edge ever closer to lifting the league title in Martin O’Neill’s first season in charge.
Alan Thompson's first-half goal was good enough to earn Celtic all three points at Parkhead in a match that has almost certainly spelled an end to defending champions Rangers' stuttering title ambitions.
The simmering tensions from Celtic's midweek Scottish League Cup semi-final win over Rangers, a game that saw three players dismissed, failed to spill over into the second part of an Old Firm double header. However, the match did see Rangers' defender Fernando Ricksen sent off on the stroke of half-time for a second bookable offence.
Celtic took the game to the visitors from the start, setting up camp deep in Rangers territory with an ease that must have worried their manager, Dick Advocaat. The Bhoys prodded and probed the Rangers defence, searching for an opening, and their patient build-up play was rewarded in the 17th minute.
The hero of the Celtic support this time was ex-Villa midfielder Thompson - sent off in the 5-1 defeat at Ibrox earlier this season - who took his chance calmly to put them ahead.
Sutton played the ball through to Larsson, who took the ball wide of Klos and squared it for Thompson to fire home.
Rangers problems deepened in the last minute of the half when Ricksen was shown his second yellow card for a late and clumsly tackle on Tom Boyd.
After a stern talking to from Advocaat at half time, Rangers did improve in the second period, but some solid Celtic defending limited them to only a handful of chances. Celtic gradually reasserted their dominance and at the end ran out worthy winners.
Despite the result, Martin O'Neill has refused to accept his team have the title wrapped up at this stage of the season.
The Celtic manager, speaking afterwards on Sky Sports, claimed there is much worked left to be done.
"Of course, it's not over," he said. "By my reckoning if we won another eight games we still would not be sure of the championship.
"The lads are delighted, and this gives us a cushion.
"But I have seen leads like this whittled away before, and I do not think there is any triumphalism in the dressing room."
Celtic:Douglas, Boyd, Mjallby, Vega, Agathe, Thompson, Lambert, Lennon, Petta, Larsson, Sutton. Subs: Gould, Tebily, Johnson, Healy, Smith.
Rangers:Klos, Konterman, Malcolm, Wilson, Ricksen, Ferguson, Albertz, McCann, Numan, Flo, Miller. Subs: Christiansen, Tugay, Johnston, Hughes, Carson.
Referee:H Dallas (Scotland)