MATCH REPORT; RANGERS 3 CELTIC 0

PRE_MATCH COMMENT

Was surprised that GS had gone for a left footed O’Dea at right back. Thought it would have been better to have moved Caldwell and brought Kennedy in.
The other surprise was Brown playing just behind McDonald, would have preferred Jarosik in that position with Brown in his more regular midfield role.

BORUC ….…. 5 I was right behind Boruc when Novo scored and my first thought was that he had a chance to have touched the ball around the post. Commanded his area well and don’t think he had a chance with the other two goals.
He will take a lot of media criticism for not shaking hands at the end.
Considering I rate him as the best Celtic goalkeeper in my lifetime I am amazed at how few clean sheets he has kept.

O'DEA….…….4 Felt for him playing in position he had virtually no experience but even allowing for that he should have made sure that Novo got nowhere near the ball for the first goal. Was moved back to the center of the defence after McManus was stretchered off. He does not have the pace for anywhere other than central defence.

CALDWELL. 5 He too could have made a better attempt to clear Hutton’s cross but was pretty steady. Moved to right back after McManus’s injury.

McMANUS…. 5 Will be very disappointed that he did not attack Hutton’s cross. Lost out too many times in his duel with Cousin. Would imagine that he will not make the trip to Lisbon.

NAYLOR….….. 4 W.Smith moved McCulloch to be directly up against Naylor and every clearance from McGregor was directed to McCulloch. Naylor had no chance in the air and stuck to his task well. His distribution is just not good enough for him to retain his place.

SNO…. ….3 I hope that the P.Lawell recognises that he has an asset in Sno which should be realised in the January window. I hope that G.S. realises that he does not have an asset in Sno. He is too cumbersome and careless.

JAROSIK…. 6 Missed a great opportunity to score in the second half and whilst I don’t think he had much of an impact but what I did like was his desire to keep at it. Had a great strike which produced a good save from McGregor
Should never have been booked.

DONATI ……3 My worry about Donati being too slow and not wanting to be in the heat of battle was, unfortunately, well founded. Let’s hope that he shows his class in Europe.

BROWN …….. 4 Was played in a fwd role and he had no real impact. The inexperience of not having played in an O.F. game proved too much for him to handle.

NAKAMURA. 3 Another O.F. game in which he failed to have any impact. He just does not like it when the going gets tough. Was rightly substituted.

McDONALD ….4 Rec’d very little support and did try hard but if he was offside every time he was flagged it shows a lack of footballing intelligence.

SUBS ………….
KENNEDY……. 4 Don’t know if he was negligent in the last two goals..

McGEADY…….3 He finds Hutton too difficult an opponent.

REF(McCURRY) ………….4 His performance had no effect on the game and perhaps 8 of Celtic’s bookings were justified but surely there were similar tackles by Rangers which were not punished (the two footed tackle by Hutton on McGeady surely deserved a card as did Cousin’s challenge on O’Dea?).

THE GAME ……4 As a match highlighting the improvement in Scottish football it left a lot to be desired.

GOALS ………. 1st. A very good move started by novo on the right and finished by Novo but a solid defence would have cleared.
2nd A dreadful mistake by Naka gifts Rangers possession. Ferguson scores.
3rd A timid tackle by McDonald allows Rangers possession which result in a penalty kick


COMMENTS ….. 1 G.S. lost out in the tactical battle with W.Smith and must rue his and Celtic’s failure to strengthen the defence. He allowed the situation of Rangers winning the midfield battle to carry on for too long.

2. Rangers deserved their victory but what will upset Celtic’s supporters more than anything is that Rangers showed form the start a total commitment to fight and battle for the ball. Too many Celtic players raised the white hankie.
3. I have no problem with Celtic bringing in players who are comfortable on the ball but in to-days game they need heart and pace.
4. From my position in the Broomloan Stand I did not see ay of the dreaded banners or hear chants re. Jock Stein. I sincerely hope that it was the result of moves by the Rangers Board and the decent rangers fans.
5. G.S. Now has to earn his wages and make sure that the team are well prepared for the game against Benfica. Will he go back and pick Bobo?
6. Has there ever been a Celtic match in which 9 Celtic players were booked?
7. Probably the first game this season in which Lennon was badly missed.