NEIL LENNON ARRIVED arrived at Ibrox this afternoon less than a day removed from Celtic’s announcement of its intention to refuse future cooperation with the Scottish Daily Record. The club claimed that yesterday’s ill-judged back-page headline presented a threat to the safety of the ex-Northern Ireland international.
The incident added yet another chapter to the acrimonious saga of Lennon’s stewardship, but didn’t succeed in distracting from a typically engaging Old Firm encounter.
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Rangers went ahead in the 22nd minute after a poor clearance allowed Steven Naismith to strike a confident half-volley into the top-left corner.
Celtic were soon level, however, some fine preparatory work from Scott Brown on the edge of the Rangers box releasing Gary Hooper. One-on-one with Allan McGregor, the striker finessed a shot across the face of goal and watched as the ball’s sidespin drew it back inside the right post.
Sadly, the rest of the game’s action couldn’t quite live up the technical promise of those opening strikes.
Celtic took the lead before half-time when McGregor succeeded in turning an innocuous Badr el-Kaddouri strike into his own net, but the jubilation felt by the green-and-white half of Glasgow’s was to prove short-lived: Rangers emerged from the break intent on imposing their superiority.
Goals from Jelavic and Lafferty, not to mention another from Naismith well into injury time, ensured that, by the final whistle, there could be little doubt as to where the SPL’s balance of power currently lies.
Watch: highlights of today's Old Firm derby
NEIL LENNON ARRIVED arrived at Ibrox this afternoon less than a day removed from Celtic’s announcement of its intention to refuse future cooperation with the Scottish Daily Record. The club claimed that yesterday’s ill-judged back-page headline presented a threat to the safety of the ex-Northern Ireland international.
The incident added yet another chapter to the acrimonious saga of Lennon’s stewardship, but didn’t succeed in distracting from a typically engaging Old Firm encounter.
Rangers went ahead in the 22nd minute after a poor clearance allowed Steven Naismith to strike a confident half-volley into the top-left corner.
Celtic were soon level, however, some fine preparatory work from Scott Brown on the edge of the Rangers box releasing Gary Hooper. One-on-one with Allan McGregor, the striker finessed a shot across the face of goal and watched as the ball’s sidespin drew it back inside the right post.
Sadly, the rest of the game’s action couldn’t quite live up the technical promise of those opening strikes.
Celtic took the lead before half-time when McGregor succeeded in turning an innocuous Badr el-Kaddouri strike into his own net, but the jubilation felt by the green-and-white half of Glasgow’s was to prove short-lived: Rangers emerged from the break intent on imposing their superiority.
Goals from Jelavic and Lafferty, not to mention another from Naismith well into injury time, ensured that, by the final whistle, there could be little doubt as to where the SPL’s balance of power currently lies.
Final score: Rangers 4 – 2 Celtic
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Allan McGregor Badr el-Kaddouri Celtic Football Gary Hooper Kyle Laffery Nikica Jelavic Rangers Scott Brown Soccer SPL Steven Naismith Tension