Old Firm Stalemate

[ian1964 10,870]

By Amir Rashid

 

Rangers 0, Celtic 0

 

BRAVE Rangers are still clinging to their title but a stalemate with their great rivals might just have ended their chances of holding on to the crown they have won in each of the last two seasons.

 

Kyle Hutton is red cardedBoth sides finished with 10 men but it is the result that is more damaging from a Rangers point of view as Hibs can now win the title if the beat Motherwell in their final fixture on April 24.

 

The Light Blues lost Kyle Hutton to two yellow cards, playing most of the second half a man down, but they battled all the way trying to secure the win they needed but could not find a way through.

 

Celtic were also reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining when Ryan Strachan was shown a straight red after he held back Archie Campbell who was through on goal.

 

Rangers seemed lacklustre in the first half and were outplayed by Celtic. Billy Kirkwood's boys were forced to play much of the opening period in their own half after being hemmed in.

 

Despite being the better side, Celtic failed to create any real goal-scoring opportunities, with most of their attempts coming from distance. They lacked any creativity or cutting edge in the final third.

 

Towell's shot from just outside the penalty area after six minutes went wide and failed to test Grant Adam. And a freekick, 20 yards out from Tidser, fifteen minutes later, again failed to trouble the Jamie Ness, RangersRangers keeper.

 

Rangers had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Kal Naismith skewed his right footed shot over from 12 yards out after being played in by Hutton.

 

If the first half belonged to Celtic then the second most certainly belonged to Rangers.

 

Kirkwood's boys got out of the blocks early in the second period and were keen to keep their title dream alive.

 

After just four minutes in, Gregg Wylde ran at the heart of the Celtic defence from the left before hammering a shot which hit the side netting.

 

Even with the dismissal of Hutton on 55 minutes, Rangers showed real fight and determination.

 

Kane Hemmings' effort on the edge of the box forced a save low down from Daniele Giordano on 65 minutes.

 

Archie Campbell, RangersThe came the controversial moment five minutes from time when Campbell might have won the game for Rangers.

 

He showed great determination to win the ball and went on excellent run in which he beat three men before being cynically pulled back while through on goal by Strachan, who was instantly dismissed. Rangers, though, could do nothing with the free kick.

 

In stoppage time Rangers threw everything at Celtic. Gordon Dick forced an excellent save out of Giordano after Campbell's most delightful touch to bring the ball down.

 

And a Wylde corner was whipped in across the face of the Celtic box that Scott Durie almost turned in at the far post.

 

However, it finished goal-less and Rangers now have to win their two remaining matches and hope that Motherwell can do them a favour against Hibs.

 

RANGERS: 1. Adam 2.Durie 3.Wylde 4.Wilson 5.Cole 6.Ness 7.Hutton 8.Stirling 9.Campbell 10.Naismith (Miller, Dick) 11.Hemmings (Bagci).

 

Subs not used: Vaiculis, Forbes, Scott, McGeough