Celtic hold firm to keep Rangers in the red
The Bhoys opened up a seven-point gap over their city rivals thanks to Scott McDonald’s volleyed winner in the 57th minute, an ideal launching pad for a fourth consecutive SPL title.
In the 10 previous championship races, only once has the side leading the field at the halfway stage not gone on to win the trophy.
Rangers were the team to buck the trend in the 2004-05 season when McDonald helped them win the title by scoring twice for Motherwell to beat Celtic at Fir Park on a dramatic last day of the season.
Celtic, who led at the halfway point this season, take on Dundee United at Parkhead on Saturday and they could extend their lead to 10 points over the Light Blues, who travel to Inverness 24 hours later.
While Rangers manager Walter Smith admitted his side now have to go unbeaten the rest of the season if they are to have any chance of catching their great rivals, McDonald, 25, refused to put too much emphasis on the Hoops’ win at Ibrox.
“We will have to wait and see,” the Australian international said. “By no means are we getting carried away.
“There is a lot of football to go and it will mean nothing if we don’t win next week and Rangers do.
“We can enjoy this result then get a little rest and back on the training ground on Monday and get our heads screwed on for a tough, tough game against Dundee United next week.”
McDonald claimed the perception in many quarters that the champions were underdogs going into the game despite their four-point lead, provided further inspiration for the Parkhead men.
Celtic had not beaten Rangers at Ibrox since February 12, 2006 when a Maciej Zurawski goal took the points back to Parkhead. But that run was ended thanks to McDonald, who sealed victory with a superb turn and shot into the top corner after Georgios Samaras’ flick-on found him on the edge of the area.
“I don’t think many people fancied us,” he said. “I think everyone knew it would be a tight game but they thought maybe Rangers would edge it bearing in mind that we haven’t won there in a long time.
“So it was nice to go out there and finally put that right. I thought we coped with the pressure pretty well, especially in the last 10 minutes.
“They started to get frustrated and give away fouls, and we were able to keep them up the other end. Everyone in the changing room was delighted because we got what we went there for. We’re very happy.”
Rangers, meanwhile, are reduced to clutching at straws as they seek a route back into the title race, with midfielder Charlie Adam urging his team-mates to use Celtic’s own fight-back last season — when they clinched the title on the final day – as inspiration.
“We know we have to roll the sleeves up and work really hard and try to claw it back,” he said. “Celtic did it last year and I can’t see why we can’t do it.
“The title isn’t lost. There are plenty of points to play for.
“Celtic clawed back seven points last year so there are still twists and turns between now and the end of the season. We just have to capitalise when mistakes are made.”
McGregor, Whittaker (Novo 74), Broadfoot, Weir, Papac, Davis, Mendes, Ferguson, Adam (Lafferty 62), Miller, Boyd.
Alexander, McCulloch, Dailly, Niguez, Fleck.
Boruc, Hinkel (Wilson 46), Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Mizuno (O'Dea 62), Scott Brown, Hartley, Robson, McDonald (Vennegoor of Hesselink 90), Samaras.
Mark Brown, Loovens, Crosas, Hutchinson.
Craig Thomson
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