Something had to give in the first Old Firm game of the season. After the first eight weeks of league action, Celtic and Rangers met at Celtic Park with matching 100% records. Managers Neil Lennon and Walter Smith knew that victory would not only open up a three-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League but also secure bragging rights until January 2nd. In the end, it was the visitors that finished as winners having been behind at half time.
Rangers ran out 3-1 victors thanks to a three-goal burst inside the first twenty minutes of the second half. It was the Light Blues that started the game the better of the two unbeaten teams but were made to pay for not taking advantage of their first half dominance. Steven Whittaker crashed a fierce drive against Fraser Forster’s post inside five minutes but apart from one other shot that went straight at the Celtic ‘keeper, Rangers really failed to even create the chances their possession should have warranted and, instead, they went behind.
In the four minutes before half time, the Bhoys enjoyed their best period of the game and forced several corners. From one delivery, the ball was flicked to the back post and controlled brilliantly by Gary Hooper. The former Scunthorpe striker composed himself and swept the ball home to give his team a slightly undeserved lead.
After the break, Walter Smith’s men responded in the perfect fashion and were back on terms within minutes. Davis whipped in a free kick and Glenn Loovens inadvertently turned the ball into his own net from Kyle Lafferty’s flick.
Six minutes later, Rangers were in front. A poor clearance by Forster was pounced upon by Steven Naismith and though his pass was intended for Maurice Edu, the ball was keyed up by Daniel Majstorovic’s attempted interception and Kenny Miller smashed home his 12th league goal of the season.
The major talking of the match soon followed as Majstorovic, who was deputising as captain after Shaun Maloney went off injured, was adjudged by referee Willie Collum to have bundled Kirk Broadfoot over inside the penalty area. Collum had no hesitation in pointing to the spot but the home players were certain the substitute had dived. Miller made no mistake from twelve yards and as much as Celtic tried to muster a comeback, Allan McGregor was able to match any of the half chances that were carved out.
Behind the Old Firm, Motherwell and Dundee United contested a match between third and fourth in the league. Having both lost out to the Old Firm last weekend, bouncing back with victory was the order of the day for both teams as they looked to remain as the pace-setters of the ‘rest of the table’ and ‘Well had two Dundee players to thank for helping them keeping the Europa League places.
Scott Severin and Sean Dillon both beat their own goalkeeper either side of David Goodwillie’s penalty. Craig Brown’s young, exciting team were not at their usual attacking best but the victory was deserved even if none of the Motherwell players were able to beat Dusan Pernis.
Dundee’s defeat saw them drop to sixth place in the SPL table and they were replaced in fourth by Hearts. Thanks to a Rudi Skacel hat-trick, Hearts ran out 3-0 winners over St Mirren and continued their decent run of form.
The former Czech Republic international scored in the first and last two minutes of the game but his most impressive goal was the free kick that he curled over the wall from 20 yards. Craig Samson dived at full stretch to reach the ball but it was so well placed into the top corner that two goalkeepers would have struggled to keep it out.
In the early kick off of the weekend, Sol Bamba had a day he would like to forget even though he scored as Aberdeen beat Hibernian 4-2. The big defender, so often caught out for his lapses in concentration, had a stinker of a day. Caught for pace on many occasions, the Ivorian will have to hope that new Hibernian manager Colin Calderwood doesn’t make a decision on him based on just one game. Goals from Chris Maguire, Paul Hartley and two from Scott Vernon saw Aberdeen into a four goal lead after an hour before Colin Nish and Bamba netted consolations on a poor day for the Hibees.
At Rugby Park, Jonny Hayes continued his recent run of scoring as Inverness Caledonian Thistle climbed to fifth in the SPL thanks to a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock. Hayes added the second goal after Adam Rooney had netted from the penalty spot just before half time. Rui Miguel’s strike for Killie did set-up a tense finish between the teams but the home team’s effort was not rewarded with an equaliser.
Hamilton, desperate for points as they sit just one place above St Mirren, were denied a draw by a Danny Grainger free kick just minutes from time. Having been behind to St Johnstone thanks to Sam Parkin’s 18th minute strike, Billy Reid’s men battled well to get themselves back into the game. They went close on a couple of occasions before Simon Mensing punished Michael Duberry’s handball from the penalty spot. And just as they looked like they had secured an already valuable point, Grainger’s low free-kick caught Tomas Cerny in two minds and fizzed past the Accies ‘keeper to earn the Saints all three points.
Results
Saturday
Aberdeen 4-2 Hibernian, Hamilton 1-2 St Johnstone, Hearts 3-0 St Mirren, Kilmarnock 1-2 Inverness CT, Motherwell 2-1 Dundee Utd
Sunday
Celtic 1-3 Rangers
Tags: Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hamilton, Hearts, Hibernian, Inverness Caley Thistle, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Rangers, St Johnstone, St Mirren
[...] Elsewhere, Colin Calderwood got his time as Hibernian manager under way with a visit to Aberdeen while 3rd place Motherwell entertained 4th place Dundee United. Hearts welcomed St Mirren to Tynecastle, Hamilton took on St Johnstone and Kilmarnock locked horns with Inverness Caley Thistle all on the twofootedtackle Scottish Premier League roundup. [...]