Celtic 3 Rangers 2
BORUC GETS SHIRTY AS CELTS WIN
Scorers: CELTIC: McDonald (2) Robson (p) RANGERS: Weir, Cousin
By Ronnie Esplin
CELTIC boss Gordon Strachan made light of the antics of his goalkeeper Artur Boruc who revealed a 'God bless the Pope’ T-shirt following the 3-2 win over Rangers at Parkhead.
A first-half double by Hoops striker Scott McDonald was cancelled out before the interval by headers from David Weir and Daniel Cousin.
However, former Ibrox player Barry Robson scored with a penalty after the break to take the home side five points clear at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table although the Light Blues have three games in hand.
After the game the Poland international, nicknamed the ’Holy Goalie’ by the Celtic fans, took his goalkeeping shirt off to show the T-shirt with a picture of the Pope and accompanying slogan.
But Strachan joked: “He’s not a bad lad, to be fair (the Pope).
“If it was ’God bless Myra Hindley’, I might have a problem.”
Strachan was reluctant to admit that his side’s second Old Firm victory in under a fortnight gives them the advantage in the run-in.
He said: “I can’t tell you how anyone else will react to it, it just makes us feel good about ourselves.
“We were disappointed to lose the goals from set-plays but I enjoyed everything apart from that.
“They realised what they had done wrong in the first half and made up for it in the second half.
“We have a satisfied dressing room and that is as good as you get here.”
Rangers boss Walter Smith watched Steven Whittaker get sent off for two yellow cards, the second for a foul on Shunsuke Nakamura in injury-time.
Afterwards Smith claimed that Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink should have been shown a straight red instead of a yellow for his thigh-high challenge on Light Blues substitute Amdy Faye.
He said: “There is always going to be a physical aspect to the game but I am a little bit aggrieved about Steven Whittaker being sent off.
“His first foul was a booking but the second one was just a tired challenge at the end of the game. Vennegoor of Hesselink’s challenge warranted more than a yellow card
“So when you consider the context of the game, we had a player sent off in innocuous circumstances.
“But I think the referee had a good game with the exception of that decision.”
“In the end I was a little bit disappointed not to take a point from the match,” Smith added.
“I thought we were value for at least a point. We know it was going to be a big challenge for but it is still in our hands.
“We know if we keep winning then we have a four-point lead so it is our job to handle the games as they come along.”
To add to Rangers’ injury woes, defender David Weir limped off with a groin strain to be replaced by Faye just after the break and, with midfielder Steven Davis, is a doubt for the Ibrox side’s UEFA Cup semi-final second leg against Fiorentina in Florence on Thursday.
Smith said: “We have Carlos Cuellar and Kevin Thomson back from suspension but Davie Weir looks doubtful for Thursday’s game.
“He has a groin strain, as has Steven Davis and it will take us a day or two to regroup and see what we have available.”
CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus (O’Dea 66), Naylor, Nakamura, Hartley (Scott Brown 83), Robson, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 68), McDonald. Subs not used: Mark Brown, Caddis, Donati, Wilson.
RANGERS: Alexander, Broadfoot, Dailly, Weir (Faye 51), Papac, Whittaker, Hemdani (Darcheville 79), Ferguson, Davis, Novo, Cousin. Subs not used: Graeme Smith, Boyd, Lennon, McMillan, Fleck.
Wattie was right about salt'n'vinegar, should have seen red for tackle on Faye. As for Boruc, would he have shown the t-shirt if Gers had beaten them? (Somehow I don't think so, there's a time and a place for winding up the opposition, the field of play is not the best choice!)
Playing wise it was a good game, however McDonald seems to have a problem with his balance, I counted at least 3 times he stopped suddenly when he knew somebody was running behind him. Once he got a penalty, the other 2 times he got free kicks. Ref should have learned by the 3rd time he was playacting.
Posted by: gordon b | April 27, 2008 at 05:45 PM | Report this comment
Once again the conduct of Boruc has been used by the media as a blanket to deflect attention form the real deranged bigots in this country the fools who claim to 'follow follow' their team how the press can hammer Artur Boruc for wearing a t-shirt of a man of peace who has never done anything to upset the Rangers support while songs like hullo hullo, the famine is over and big jock knew defies belief and only in this country could such a thing happen.
Posted by: Mark | May 04, 2008 at 02:30 PM | Report this comment
I would just like 2 know why mr murdoch still has gerry McNEE on the payroll? The guy has not got a clue,about the first thing about scotish football,people,religion!!!!!P.S he can only
Posted by: joe gucci | May 06, 2008 at 12:33 AM | Report this comment
Mark, you are just another on of the Liewwell brainwashed.
Here are the FACTS, you know them don't you, when was the last time you heard the Billy Boys?, Do ra sellick fans not sing Ooh aah up the ra?(and please don't hit back with a Jeanette Findlay statement, we all know what she is), Also you seem to be forgetting the FACT that Big Jock did know, is it really that hard to understand?, COURT RECORDS PROVE HE KNEW and tried to keep it from becoming public because it would tarnish ra sellick's great name, and also your board kept it under wraps for TWENTY years, that's right TWENTY, it only came out because of Fergus McCann. (for a small fee you can get the court records)
FACTS and sellick fans, not usually in the same sentence.
Posted by: Ifyecannae | May 11, 2008 at 08:05 PM | Report this comment