The Rangers Football Club

FT - It’s full-time and home fans boo as the final whistle blows. In truth, they were fortunate to escape with a point as Rangers were by far the better side in a much better second half and with

 a bit more luck in front of goal, thjey might have won this one. The remain two points off the top of the league but will feel confident of claiming the title going into the final third of the

 campaign.

88 mins - Nakamura goes down under Naismith’s challenge and a soft free kick is given. This is

 a good chance for Celtic 25 yards from goal and the Japanese midfielder lines it up. Mendes is booked as the wall fails to retreat and although McGregor spills the shot, the visitors clear. 

87 mins - With the clock ticking down, it’s Rangers who fancy their chances most but their move forward is nipped in the bud as McCulloch is carded for a late challenge.

85 mins - Brown’s part in the game is over as he fails to recover from the clash with McGregor. Marc Crosas takes his place.

84 mins - Rangers are livid as Ferguson and Bougherra track Samaras, who runs the ball out of play yet sees a corner given. The captain is furious and his reaction earns him a booking.

79 mins - Great save from Boruc as he makes a point-blank stop from David Weir when he heads goalwards from a corner. Things are hotting up a bit now and there’s every chance we’ll have a winner for someone before the end as Celtic look to strike on the break.

76 mins - Naismith gets tangled up with Scott Brown and there appears to be little on the collision but there’s a bit of afters and that leads to yellows for both from Murray.

73 mins - Lafferty, injured a few moments ago, goes down again with a knee injury and comes off. In a straight swap, he is replaced by Steven Naismith.

69 mins - Good chance for Miller to score but after a great backheel from Davis but he sends it well wide. Nevertheless, the Light Blues are definitely on top just now and their change seems to be making more of an impact than the two Celtic have made.

66 mins - Hartley joins Vennegoor of Hesselink in the book for dissent when Murray gives a free kick Gers’ way after Ferguson is fouled in midfield.

65 mins - Murray curiously gives a corner to Celtic when it appears that they put the ball out. Hartley takes it bnut Rangers clear well and hit their opponents on the counter, with Davis only just failing to make the most of Miller’s good run down the right.

62 mins - Celtic are next to make changes, with Georgis Samaras and Aiden McGeady coming on. They replace Vennegoor of Hesselink and Flood.

60 mins - Rangers make their first change of the afternoon, with Fleck coming off after a good shift on the left side. He is replaced by Kenny Miller, the hero here in the last derby at Parkhead back in August.

59 mins - It’s a great knockdown from Lafferty for Ferguson but the ball gets caught under his feet and lifts over the woodwork.

57 mins - Great footwork from Davis gives Lafferty his chance but the angle isn’t great for him and his on-target shot is easily held by Boruc.

55 mins - Rangers are starting to take charge again and are pressing well. They still can’t produce much up front but look fairly comfortable in possession.

51 mins - Bougherra does brilliantly to twist away from two men and when he sends a left-footed cross in from the right, Boruc has to dive to tip a certain McManus own goal behind. Ferguson shoots just wide when the rebound from the corner comes his way 18 yards out.

49 mins - Bougherra is ruled to have fouled McDonald in the left corner when he seemed to put the ball out for a throw. Thnafully the free kick awarded comes to nothing.

47 mins - Hartley tries his luck again and although he’s closer this time, he still can’t hit the target as his half volley screws well past the post.

46 mins - After the teams re-emerge from the tunnel, Celtic get play going again through McDonald and Vennegoor of Hesselink.

HT – Celtic 0-0 Rangers. Referee Murray blows the half-time whistle and it really has been a quiet first 45 minutes. Each side has had a spell of better possession but shots on goal are few and far between and it’s no surprise it remains level. Here’s hoping for an improved second period.

38 mins - Hartley registers the first shot on goal and when it takes 38 minutes to come, that sums up the kind of game we’re seeing. His attempt is typical of the way things have gone so far too - it rises well over the upright.

35 mins - A deep cross comes into the box as Celtic look to make the breakthrough and Allan McGregor claims well. After gathering, Vennegoor of Hesselink goes in on the keeper and is cautioned for the infringement.

33 mins - Good play from both Davis and Fleck sees the ball end up with Broadfoot on the right. Hinkel chests his cross away and despite Boruc’s acrobatic dive, it gives Rangers their first corner but they waste it.

28 mins - Fleck is a little over-eager going into the tackle and brings Flood down in the right corner. Nakamura smacks the resulting free kick straight into the youngster and earns a corner but Rangers manage to clear it. Celtic are starting to enjoy more of the ball.

27 mins - Madjid Bougherra tries to take matters into his own hands with one of those runs from defence he’s quickly becoming known for. This time, however, his cross in from the right sails well over.

24 mins - Ferguson and Mendes combine to intercept a Paul Hartley pass but then give the ball away again and that sums up the way the game is going at the moment. Gers’ bright spell has passed and it’s a bit scrappy for both teams now.

21 mins - The same applies to Lee McCulloch, who is fortunate to escape a yellow card when he trips Lee Naylor. It’s only a matter of time now before the book comes out.

20 mins - Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink clashes with Sasa Papac and after a couple of fouls earlier, earns a word from referee Calum Murray for his troubles. It seems one more of them might lead to a booking.

15 mins - Celtic miss a great chance to take the lead. Shunsuke Nakamura comes forward with purpose and feeds Willo Flood on the right. He gets clear of Fleck and crosses to Scott McDonald, who gets a touch on the ball a couple of yards out but somehow glances wide.

13 mins - Both sides have settled down a bit now and Rangers are starting to come into the game a bit more, enjoying plenty of possession but not yet catching sight of Boruc’s frame.

7 mins - Scott Brown chops down Steven Davis in the central channel and is lucky to get away without a booking. The free kick comes to nothing as Brown himself clears and it remains 0-0. Rangers have made a decent start and look composed.

3 mins - John Fleck catches sight of the ball for the first time and crosses. Although Artur Boruc flaps, his defence is able to keep the ball away from the goal.

0 min - Rangers get the game underway through Barry Ferguson and Pedro Mendes and are shooting from towards the Celtic end of the ground.

CELTIC: Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Flood, S Brown, Hartley, Nakamura; McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs: M Brown, McGeady, Samaras, Loovens, O’Dea, Croasas, Hutchinson.

RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; McCulloch; Davis, Mendes, Ferguson, Fleck; Lafferty.

Subs: Alexander, Naismith, Edu, Whittaker, Miller, Boyd, Aaron .

Referee: Calum Murray.

RSS Subscribe

Tags: 0 - 0, 15 02 2009, Celtic, Highlights, Rangers, Result

Comments