Rangers grab the SPL 9 in a row
Ibrox side deserve victory
Like many Celtic V Rangers games that have been hyped to an inch of their life, it failed to stand up as a football spectacle but for the winning team, that hardly matters. Rangers fans will be celebrating long into the night…and the week ahead…and with 9 wins out of 9 in the SPL, who can blame them?
Rangers could have been celebrating early when Steven Whittaker hit the post but after two early and deserved bookings for Stokes from Celtic and McCulloch from Rangers, there wasn’t much going on in the opening stages.
Celtic lost captain Shaun Maloney early on, being replaced by Mexican Efrain Juarez but both sides were sounding each other out. As football contests go, it was fairly non-eventful.
The match sparked to life when McCulloch halted a Celtic break by impeding Samaras, which looked like a yellow card. If McCulloch hadn’t been booked early on, it is fair to say that that a yellow would have followed but with the focus on Willie Collum, there was no chance he would make such a decision. McCulloch stayed on and Celtic wasted the free-kick opportunity.
That said, the side in green and white grabbed a lead before half-time when a corner broke to Gary Hooper in space. The striker blasted the ball home and ensured the home side had a 1-0 lead at half-time….even if few would have said any team deserved to be in the lead.
Celtic needed to hold that lead for a while but the shambolic Hoops defence allowed Rangers back into the game almost instantaneously in the second half. Glen Loovens was unfortunate in bundling the ball behind Foster to draw Rangers level but things went from bad to worse for the Celtic backline.
Some suicidal defending from Celtic, almost as part and parcel of these games as the bigotry from certain elements of the crowd, gave Rangers the opportunity to take the lead as Kenny Miller fired home. The Rangers end of Celtic Park went mad as per usual for this season; the blues were celebrating reversing a deficit.
At this point, Celtic looked dead and buried and unable to come back into the match but it has to be said they were very harshly treated with the penalty kick for Rangers third. Broadfoot clearly made the most of a non challenge from Majstorovic and even though Willie Collum appeared to not see the challenge, he pointed to the spot. And as all of Scottish football knows, when the ref points to the spot, he isn’t going to change his decision and award anything else….
Kenny Miller slammed the ball home and the three points were in the bag for Rangers. After this, Celtic huffed and puffed but looked poor and Rangers played very confidently in restricting their city rivals.
So, Celtic have now lost, meaning Rangers are out on their own at the top of the SPL and with 9 wins in a row, are deservedly out on their own in the SPL. There is a long way to go in the SPL but with an away victory under their belt, Rangers will be extremely confident about edging out their Glasgow rivals.
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I can feel you pain in that report! We all see things differently but for balance can I ask if you think Stokes was lucky not to be sent off on the 2nd minute for his assault on Papac?
As for Collum and his penalty decision, check out the Willie Vass photography site, he clearly did see the incident, despite what the Celtic commentary team of Crocker and Provan say
http://willievass.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/241010-Celtic-v-Rangers/G0000APntnfTRbk8/I00001.MWlwvLqUE
You try and win the ball with either your head or feet, the Swede did neither and placed BOTH hands on Broadfoot and as a result gave the referee a decision to make, a bit soft but raise your hands and your asking for trouble.
Samaras places a knee on McGregors head after he collects the ball, he also has a crude challenge from behind that couldve easily seen a red card.
All the incidents apart, the Rangers thoroughly deserved their win. It’s been many a long year since I’ve watched a game at Parkhead when the home team have been so poor. Our keeper was barely tested all game.
We’re happy to admit that Rangers were the deserved winners and Celtic got what they deserved.
Stokes challenge – Scottish football pundits have told us that Lafferty’s challenge on Hinkel wasnt a red card, so therefore, Stokes wasn’t either. It was a bad challenge though – Stokes and McCulloch were rightly booked.
If McCulloch hadnt been booked early on, his block on Samaras was a definite yellow card – dont think most people would argue with that.
Samaras was very lucky not to be booked for the wild sliding challenge he made in the first half – it appeared that Collum was happy to have booked a player from each team and then let a few things go from either team. After that, there was one move when Samaras went in rather petulantly with a foot in the air near McGregor. Given McGregor was pulled for a challenge with intent but no contact, you could easily say the Greek striker should have been censured…but Samaras never had any intent – he merely looked semi-interested in a built up area!!
Think the thing that Celtic fans are mostly raging about the penalty award is the fact they got no penalties last weekend when two should have been awarded. Rangers were looking home and hosed at 2-1 such was their comfort and Celtics inability to string passes together but we’re living in an era when two goals have decided the SPL so the award could have a big importance at the end of the season.
However, as we said in the article and in other posts, Rangers fully deserved their victory, streets ahead of Celtic without being at their best. Don’t think anyone can have any complaints about who the three points went to, even if certain things may rankle. Full credit to Rangers for 9 league wins on the bounce, a great achievement, even more so from the start of the season and during Champions League matches…no problems with that at all….better team definitely won today.
Celtic got what they deserved today & that was 0 points, what we should’ve done was “park the bus” in the 2nd half & do to Rangers what they did to us later on when they were in front.
We missed a great chance to put some distance between us & them today, not really Lennon’s fault that the defenders didn’t pick up Lafferty at the free kick.
Celtic snatched defeat from the Jaws of victory BUT there’s still plenty of games left to be won.
There’s also a transfer window in January when Lawell should buy in 2 decent CB & ship out Samaras, Loovens their time is up at CP.
Agreed Smokywoods – Celtic can have no complaints about what they took from todays game and agreed about a long way to go of this season.
stokes 1st tackle a sraight red , mccullochs 1st tackle he got the ball never a booking . penalty big broadfoot went down a little easy reminded me a bit of maloney a few times this season . i couldnt believe the bookies were giving 5/2 for the champions yesterday easy money [ hence my sore heed ]
Maybe we can have an article disputing the Anti football tag given to Rangers??
10 goals in last 7 visits to parkhead, Celtic have scored twice at ibrox in same number of games?
We could have scored 5 yesterday
Just wish Celtic could lose with some dignity, never happen though
In all fairness Scooter, we have been full of praise for Ramgers and their attacking ability this season – various articles have pointed this out.
There is definitely a laziness to some people’s opinions about Rangers -coloured by one match this season – but the goals Rangers have scored should offset these thoughts. Kenny Miller has probably still scored more than most teams in the league!
Celtic appear to have a mental block about Ibrox these days – cue joke about it being akin to playing away to a European side! Rangers certainly have little fear about visiting Celtic Park.
Celtic were well beaten yesterday and can have few complaints. Whilst blasting the ref is Neil Lennons right, you wouldhabe to think he would be blasting a number of his players as well. Celtic just weren’t good enough.
Sorry, my stat is wrong
Rangers have scored 12x in last 7 visits to parkhead
celtic still only 2 out of 7 visits to ibrox
Agree with your last point, they were 1 up and blew it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwIMjmJ3b6Q&feature=related
After Lennon’s outrage at Broadfoot playing for the penalty, I wonder if he looks back on this incident and squirms?
Quags…. Broadfoot dived before he was even near Majstorovic can’t believe you are trying to defend him or the referee.
I’m wondering whether the threatening phonecalls Willie Collum has received were to ask him how Samaras and Stokes stayed on the park?
Samaras in particular, to only receive one yellow for his challenges on Bougherra and Naismith is quite unbelievable. (And thats not even discussing his cowardly and petulant knee clipping the back of McGregors head).
The only reason i mention this is to show that bad decisions happen to all teams. Yes the penalty was soft (I’ve seen big Kirk go down easy a few times now and it never looks graceful in his lumbering style). And incidently i’m not buying the fact that McCulloch should have gone as Lennon insists. That would have been very soft, even if it could be argued within the rules, however i digress.
However my point being that Lennon has decided to focus on 2 decisions that didint go his way and has completely ignored the decisions that went his way.
I have a theory regardng the Celtic family as a whole, both within the club and as supporters…and I’m going to throw it out there now.
Whatever the history may point to, for example a combined sense of injustice whether it be regarding football or in an overall sense of position in society. It has all led to a point where i’m convinced Celtic fans watch and wait for that one decision where they can go nuts at. And the memory for remembering such incidents is second to none. I’m now sure some fans turn up to the game not only looking for a victory but looking and waiting for that one moment to feel hard done by. And say “see, they’re against us”. It’s what binds the supporters as a unit, and everyone wants to be accepted as part of a group. It’s human nature.
Every fan of every team always feels the refs have it in for them at some points but Celtic seem to thrive on it. And it’s led us to a situation where refs have been hit by coins, had their windows put in, feel the need to resign or have their wives and families threatened over the phone.
It’s gone too far.
Time for Celtic to concentrate on their own failings. The fact that they could have buried Rangers after they secured 3 in a row. The fact that they have made a few poor managerial appointments in past 15 years. The high player turnover and dearth of any real quality. The united nations feel to the club and problems this will have in communication when the going gets tough. (Braga, Utrecht, Rangers) All their own doing, all put to the side in preference to discussing the failings of referee’s – the easy target.
Cheers for the lengthy response MYT, your opinion is valid and very welcome. You make some good points but equally, some points lay out your own mindset as much as any other writer or poster on this site.
The Stokes challenge looks worse every time you see it. The earliness of the challenge (in game time) and the fact that it was so late most people had followed the ball has definitely worked in Stokes favour. Lafferty’s foul on Hinkel last year was deemed a yellow but should have been stronger…the more you see Stokes, its hard to say anything different.
Samaras – said at the time he was lucky not to be booked for the slide challenge on Bougherra – think the two early bookings saved him as Collum decided to slow the pace of bookings down. You’ll forgive us for not catching the knee incident at the time – stupid boy, a booking would have been deserved for his nonsense – no intent to hurt but idiocy of the highest order.
However, to say McCulloch’s second wasn’t a bookable offence? If the player isn’t on a booking, that’s a yellow 9/10, the 1 for human error that can often occur. Perhaps Collum replayed Stokes challenge in his mind and felt he had got it wrong and this was a leveller – in that case, wrongs equalling rights.
So, certain incidents have angered you or at least other peoples reactions to them, fair enough but its all for your own team…there wasn’t any outcry from Rangers fans a few months back saying “you know what, Bougherra should have been red carded for kicking Keane all over Ibrox” – instead, it was, “haha, did you see that wink, class act big Boughy”. And fair play to them – that’s how football rivalry works….but it needs to work both ways – if you do it yourself, accept it in others.
“Yes the penalty was soft (I’ve seen big Kirk go down easy a few times now and it never looks graceful in his lumbering style).”
See, it’s this reaction that means we can’t take your opinion 100% seriously MYT. You are the most vociferous opponent of diving – you hate it, have done for years and regularly speak up about it. Unless it involves Rangers – last season you slaughtered McGeady but made no remark about Boyd’s bookings. This season, Maloney can get it in the neck but Naismith and now Broadfoot are not criticised? It weakens your argument and lessons some of the strong points you have to make.
“And it’s led us to a situation where refs have been hit by coins, had their windows put in, feel the need to resign or have their wives and families threatened over the phone.”
Coins and windows, no arguments from us, shameful behaviour, said so in the past and will do again.
However,
A) ‘Feel the need to resign’ – Think we should wait on the reasons for Craven’s resignation before the blame for that one is attributed….and not the media spin reason, lets get direct quotes if we can.
B) So the Daily Record with no direct quotes is now a believable source. ‘Thugs and Thieves’, DaMarcus Beasley’s car and Alan McGregor – three stories the record ran with saying Celtic fans were to blame, in all three cases they weren’t.
Both sides have a point but to come on and make accusations of Celtic fans claiming for everything and ignoring their own defects….well, it indicates that fans of different teams are more alike than what they think.
You argue about Lennon – but your initial points were about decisions that went against your team. In the interviews, Lennon went onto criticise his team but that’s not the headlines…. If a man whose job is on the line is being criticised for pointing out issues he felt went against his side, then surely you must abide by the same rules? Its not a big issue…its just kinda funny that you dig up Lenny and then do the same thing.
As for Celtic needing to focus on themselves, no argument there but surely both things can be looked at, they’re not mutually exclusive. Celtic vastly need to improve, no arguments about that score but to absolve refs of any blame or interference would be to bury one’s head in the sand. It looks as though the Tannadice incident is going to run…and that’s still completely overlooking the other complaints Celtic had with the refereeing that day!
As for Celtic fans thriving on the downtrodden aspect – you can pretty much rest assured most Celtic fans don’t appreciate spending over £70 for two games at Ibrox and see decision after decision go against them, which was the case last season – proper game changing decisions. For 70 odd bangers, stuff oppression, bring on guaranteed wins!
Ha…..no, down with honest mistakes and agendas (real or perceived) – lets just get the right decisions made…..and then everyone can just fully blame the Celtic defence for being mince!
This is the world in which we live, total madness
Why doubt the ref has been abused?? “sectarian undertones” is the quote, if this was Rangers fans it would be believed and written about by everyone, also being reported on sky, are they also lying?
This on the back of an assistant referee recieving threats all through last week.
Celtic FC should be embarrassed by this, a lot of their actions have lead to it happening
We all have shocking decisions against us, from a Gers point of view I could give you 6 / 7 / 8 off top of my head
1. JVOH foot into the chest of Amdy Faye
2. Penalty for McDonald fouled outside the box by broadfoot
3. Caldwells handball at Ibrox from a Steve Davis netbound effort
4. Pen denied for Edu after being clearly fouled by Hinkel
5. Stokes assault on Papac
6. Samaras staying on the park
7. Hartley breaking McCullochs foot
8. Robsons elbow into Christain Dailly
I could go on and on and on and on, the point is we all feel aggrieved at different times, I am glad my club have never stooped to the levels of firing the fans up like Celtic seem to be willing to do, they are now clearly in the business of questioning every referee in Scotland
Disgraceful and I believe every fan of every club in scotland will be sick and tired of their behaviour
“No-one likes us and we don’t care”. Oh, wait a minute, that’s not a line from a Celtic song at all is it?
If u want to read about a sense of injustice and an ‘everyone is out to get us’ mentality then there are plenty of Rangers forums where they discuss the relevant merits of the sports meeja in Scotland:-
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=153178
You see? Evry club has a siege mentality at times. Don’t think Rangers are excluded from this.
BTW, if anyone is still trying to claim Collum had a good, or even a decnt, game on Sunday get your head out of the ground. We have had 2 unbelievable incidents in the space of a week. Shockign officiating is the subject NOT some preconcieved nonsense about Masons, etc.
I would defy any set of fans to remain dignified after seeing what we have in the last 2 games. However, this is not an excuse for yet another lame-duck performance on Sunday.
You dont seriously now want to debate who the most paranoid set of fans are surely???
You ended with excatly what Celtic fans do, “However, this is not an excuse for yet another lame-duck performance on Sunday.”
Think you will find it as an excuse, do celtic not have any of those T Shirts left? To think they created the line “no excuses” hilarious
all this anger they are fuelling against the officials will result in some looney hurting an official . as for broadfoot all you can say he went down maloneyish
But Jaz…you say Maloney dives, you’re not suggesting Kirk dives are you?
Are we through the looking glass people…
I don’t know Skitter, read that link I posted and tell me what you really think. Maybe Rangers fans don’t have a need to be paranoid, except when acknowledging that no-one likes them.
Celtic were rank rotten on Sunday. Is anyone debating that? However, with the game on a knife edge at 2-1 Rangers (who, despite Celtic being atrocious, had failed to kill the game off entirely) don’t you think that was a massive decision for Collum to make when he wasn’t even looking at the incident? Why not consult his assistant? Dougie McDonald certainly did didn’t he?
I’m not saying that if the joke of a penalty wasn’t awarded then Celtic would definitely have got back into the game. The fact is we shall never know due to piss-poor officiating.
I really think anyone who saves a link from a rival fans forum from June really is on the brink of a mental breakdown, never mind paranoia
The way you addressed me though means am not surprised by your actions
I like the way you take comfort in the fact that although Celtic were poor Rangers hadnt finished the game completely??
1 nil down after 48 mins, took us another whole 20 mins to finish the game completely, I apologise that it took us so long
Also interesting when I click on your name, part of the sites team are you?
Wouldnt have thought anyone so childish would be (apart from Dub obvioulsy!!)
I merely posted a link to show that paranoia and a persecution complex isn’t the exclusieve domain of Celtic fans. Look closer to home when you get off that high horse of yours.
Yes, the whole game was finished completely AFTER the joke pemalty award. Can’t you read properly?
“The way you addressed me though means am not surprised by your actions”. Fair enough, maybe it was a bit childish after all. Any comments to make on how your fellow bears addressed me and my fellow supporters on Sunday?
Eh?!? You talk about paranoia and being on the brink of a mental breakdown and you accuse me of being part of this site’s team? There will be a knock at your door soon. Don’t answer it, they’re coming to take u away (ha ha!).
Please tell me your not now getting upset at being called names at an old firm game??
Do you get as offended whenever you win an Old Firm games and sing things like “Go home ya huns” etc etc
Was it the oles at the end that upset you, or were you one of the missing 35k at that stage
Has always been thus…..
http://weknowsfa/
Thats the link YOUR name takes me to, sorry if I made an error, you can probably understand my confusion, there again….
Copnspiracy theory against Skit, er, Scooter anyone?
I see your now looking for support of others
Is it a special type of drug your on??
Still no mention of what name offended you most on Sunday?
As you all know, we usually sit back and let our guests go at it….and this is no exception.
Apologies for the interruption – just to confirm that BSIJ isn’t part of the team and to confirm Dubcentral is childish.
Sadly the WKSFA team has been dwindling of late for a couple of reasons – abuse and threats (all by me obviously) being the main reasons – stay tuned for (not really) exciting developments.
Anyways- ding ding resume…..
Ed
I should have known you wouldnt entertain such an idiot (Dub aside clearly)
We can negotiate salary if you want me in…
Some ads and further info be going up later – no pay involved but given that guys like you and Quags spend as much time on here as me……
Covering for some missing writers and ideas men and just looking to expand coverage a bit – there’s nowhere near enough Hearts and Hibs fighting.
It makes you yearn for the day when all the bald brummies descended on the site because we called Birmingham a shitehole. Which it is…
I have an idea…
Ban BSIJ.
An old firm argument is never really won is it? It goes on and on and grows arms and legs, but it definitely get’s the blood pumping that’s for sure!!
Regarding the refereeing issues, I think that Lennons actions and comments in recent weeks have been ill advised. I’m not going to say that him and his team have not had an easy time recently, but to dredge up the ‘honest mistake’ again recently is playing to the lowest common denominator within the support. The inference is that the ‘establishment’ is out to get them merely play into the hands of the extremists who think it’s clever to post death threats on message boards, make menacing sectarian phone calls and previously attacking officials with coins, lighters and conkers!!
No as manager of one of Scotlands major clubs, Lennon has a responsibility to keep a lid on such things and deal with perceived grievances in a more diplomatic and dignified manner.
And just to confirm that Billy’s not on the payroll of this site, he’s too busy at this time of the year haunting houses.
And finally, Birmingham is most certainly a shit-hole!!
Scooter…. Childish..Me How dare you! – I resemble that remark.
bhoys just hold yer hands and say slowly ,we were beaten by a better team . easy eh
So…the media now says this:
The Celtic striker Anthony Stokes, meanwhile, had his home attacked, also on Sunday evening, while he and members of his family were inside. Lennon said: “We’re living in the age of the internet where people can say and write what they like, stoke up a lot of trouble and provoke emotions in the aftermath of games. Sometimes it’s out of control.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/26/celtic-neil-lennon-referee-threat
Bandits on both sides? Celtic fans really angry at Stokes for not fouling Papac enough? Media spin on the other side?
We werent in the mood for castigating Celtic fans at what the Record said…and equally, we arent going to castigate Rangers fans for this.
However, some of our readers had the gallows built today….it’ll be interesting to get their take on this.
waw a media detective
If Stokes has been a victim of this, then I would utterly condemn those who were involved in the same manner that I would condemn any keyboard warrior, telephone hardman or total arsehole who would indulge in any such behaviour.
It does however bring me back to the point that Celtic Football Club have a responsibility not to fan the flames of this mad world of Scottish Football and Old Firm Rivalry that we live in. Lennon has every right to question decisions that go against his team, but why the need to do it so publicly and high profile? It’s boosts the conspiracy theories and gives rise to these arseholes that I mention above.
Lennon has to realise that he is in a very important and high profile Job in Scottish society and needs to carry the dignity that such a post should carry. Sadly neither him or his paymaster seemed to have grasped this.
Quags… should Lennon just take it on the chin?
Dignity is easily forgotten when you are suggesting that officials with Irish sounding names are not giving decisions in your favour.
Skitter, just the usual old repertoire of ‘party’ tunes. You know, the ones that you have received 2 UEFA fines for. Those tunes which do not even mention the mighty Glasgow Rangers, the one telling me to go home. Anyhows, I thought that no-one liked you but you didn’t care anyway. If you wish to be offended by being called ‘Skitter’ like the long streak of putrid smelly stuff that you obviously are then you surely must understand racism when you hear it. Or when you joining in with the ‘banter’?
And what exactly would I be barred from this site for you loonball? For posing a question which you failed to answer?
I usually ignore such nonsense, but I refuse to be called an eejit from someone who has recently bought 10 rolls of rubber wallpaper on sale from Capones at the Trongate.
Well done these Lhads & Lhassies. So much better than I could have put it:-
http://www.etims.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3027
Ed, I hope u don’t mind me posting this link (why should you anyway, I’m part of the team after all!) but it surely puts a bit of comedy perspective on the rags reportings of these things.