United jubilant after their late equaliser stunned Ibrox

In a pulsating match, which isn’t a surprise as both sides regularly produce an excellent match when up against each other. In the two Rangers v Dundee United games at Ibrox this season, in the SPL and Cup, there has been 14 goals. Dundee United took the lead after 24 minutes this afternoon when Andis Shala was able convert a one-on-one chance against McGregor after Jon Daly intercepted a very slack pass from Steven Whittaker. That goal seemed to galvanise treble-chasing Rangers, who equalised after 34 minutes when Kenny Miller was hacked down by goalkeeper Dusan Pernis and Kris Boyd stepped up confidently to rifle the ball into the corner. It was the talisman Boyd who was to get the second goal for Rangers nine minutes later when he was barged by Sean Dillon inside the box and referee Dougie MacDonald awarded a spot-kick that Boyd slotted home into the net.

In the second-half, Rangers seemed to kill the game after 48 minutes when Spanish striker Nacho Novo recieved Steven Davis’ pass and he rifled into the corner despite the late efforts of the United defenders. Rangers took their foot of the gas and United deservedly got back into the game when Steven Whittaker conceded a soft goal when Morgaro Gomis’ shot deflected off the Rangers right-back and into the net. United pushed later in the game and got the equaliser after 80 minutes when Mihail Kovacevic slammed home a header to send this Cup tie to a replay on the 24th March.

McCulloch on the scoresheet twice this afternoon

There was an air of optimism around Ibrox this afternoon after the strong take-over rumours that emerged in the Scottish Press this morning linking property-developer Andrew Ellis and a Far East consortium with taking over the SPL Champions, who have made it clear that interest has been shown. The game started very openly with St Mirren having a great chance just after a few minutes to take the lead but Thomson couldn’t fire home under pressure from Weir, however, the referee brought the game back for an earlier free-kick. Rangers were dominating the majority of the possession, with Kevin Thomson winning pretty much everything in midfield after another solid display and Danny Wilson coping well with the presence of Mehmet and Higdon, Wilson was replacing Bougherra in central defence this afternoon.

The Saints took the lead, arguably a deserved one, right on the half-hour mark when left-back Graham Carey, who funnily enough is on loan from Celtic, fired in a stunning free-kick from 28 yards past the static Allan McGregor. Ibrox became a different place and the fans urged Rangers on and the champions responded after just 2 minutes when Kevin Thomson’s free-kick sparked a scramble inside the six-yard box and Lee McCulloch fired the ball past Paul Gallacher into the net. The Gers pushed on and played some neat stuff up until half-time and Danny Wilson was inches away from scoring a superb volley inside the box but Gallacher made an excellent save. Steven Davis also came close for Rangers when his terrific free-kick from 30 yards looped over the wall and rattled the bar.

Seconds after the restart, Rangers went back infront through Lee McCulloch. The midfielder fired a right-footed volley from the edge of the box straight into the corner with Gallacher too slow to react. Ibrox was on its feet and stayed on its feet when Maurice Edu recieved a rapturous welcome on to the pitch after his Old Firm winner last week as he replaced Kevin Thomson. DaMarcus Beasley returned from International duty with the US and put in a decent display this afternoon, a good selection headache for Walter Smith but the American was also replaced by Nacho Novo just after the hour mark. It was indeed the Spaniard who got the third goal after 78 minutes when he sneaked in at the back-post to tap home Steven Davis’ free-kick.

The Champions remain in top-spot, 13 points clear of Celtic who are away to Falkirk tomorrow. Rangers will have a game in hand after Celtic’s match at the Falkirk Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

No Surrender Banner Pre-Match at Ibrox

As I took my seat at Ibrox nearly 40 minutes before kick-off, you could already smell the tension and passion in the cold air. Even with 20 minutes to go, the gestures were flying back and forth and the obscenities were being passed across the stadium. An Old Firm derby is quite special, if you haven’t experienced it, I’d encourage you to do so. The one-minute silence before kick-off for former Rangers goalkeeper Gerry Neef was disgracefully interrupted by Celtic supporters, just like on Rememberance Sunday, and again Sky decided to turn the volume down. The torrent of abuse from the Rangers fans after the silence was pretty evident. The team line-ups were pretty much what I had expected, although a few eyebrows were raised at Kyle Lafferty’s starting place on the left of midfield.

Simon Weston: A True Hero

First-half, I thought it was quite an even game, but very open and at every attack you felt a goal could come. Celtic had one main chance mid-way through the first-half when Robbie Keane produced a low volley which was very well saved by Allan McGregor. The Rangers pressed and chased their Glasgow rivals and the performance of Kevin Thomson in midfield was a joy to behold. Lee McCulloch, his central midfield partner, didn’t have the same impact when the former Wigan striker was taken off for Maurice Edu, what a day he would have! The home side had a few chances of their own in the first-half, Kris Boyd was sent through on goal and he rounded Artur Boruc before hitting the side-netting, then Kenny Miller was sent through on goal but Boruc was equal to Miller’s shot. At half-time, British hero Simon Weston recieved his Rangers Poppy shirt, but unsurprisingly, the Celtic fans decided to interrupt that aswell with IRA chants and Argentinian and Uruguyan flags, the latter summing up Celtic fans in general!

Brown was sent-off for his tussle with Lafferty

Rangers started the brightest of the two sides in the second-half, Maurice Edu was quickly adapting to the pace of the game after a slow start and the dynamic American was all over the pitch. The Gers had a penalty shout when Kris Boyd and Maurice Edu were bundled to the ground by the Celtic rear-guard consisting of O’Dea and Thompson, O’Dea replacing Thomas Rogne early on in the game. Then just after the hour-mark, referee Dougie MacDonald, who was under the spotlight for the 90 minutes, made a huge decision to send-off Scott Brown for violent conduct after a tussle with Kyle Lafferty. At the time, I felt it was a booking at most for Brown, but the TV pics show Brown’s intention to head-butt Lafferty on the chest.

Edu got the winner to give Rangers a 10 point lead, with a game in hand

As the game entered the final 20 minutes, Celtic looked happy to take a 0-0 draw and they didn’t really press Rangers much towards the end. The Champions had other ideas and had a few unlucky efforts at goal when the ball was scrambled about inside the Celtic box and they couldn’t hit it goalwards. Time was ticking away and Sasa Papac almost sneaked a winner but Boruc turned it behind for a corner. Then in injury time, Thomson’s corner was headed to Bougherra who controlled with his chest and fired a shot which Boruc parried. Talisman Kris Boyd tried to do what he does best, but couldn’t fumble it across the line. However, the American midfielder Mo Edu steamed in and slotted the ball into the empty net to cue sensational celebrations in the Rangers crowd.

An amazing feeling.

1) Rangers 4-0 Celtic, March 2000

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

2) Rangers 4-2 Celtic, September 1999

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

3) Rangers 5-1 Celtic, 1989

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

4) Rangers 3-0 Celtic, 2007

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

5) Rangers 3-2 Celtic, December 2002

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

6) Rangers 2-1 Celtic, 2003 League Cup Final

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

7) Rangers 2-1 Celtic, 2002 League Cup Semi-Final

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

Fill Yer Boots …

Scottish Premier League

Rangers 3-1 Celtic

Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Robertson, Petric, McLaren, Bjorklund, Moore, Gascoigne, McCoist, Albertz, Ferguson Subs: Miller, Van Vossen, Andersen

(Apologies for no Celtic team, struggled to find any links for the line-ups etc)

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' />

An injury-hit Rangers produced a late double to snatch three points from Celtic in this Old Firm Classic of January 1997. The Gers took the lead with an awesome free-kick from Jorg Albertz, firing the ball from at least 30 yards past Stewart Kerr. Di Canio, got the equaliser for Celtic but substitute Erik Bo Andersen was to write himself into Rangers history. The Danish striker didn’t necessarily have the greatest time at Ibrox but he will be famously remembered for his instant impact in this famous match. His two goals as a sub won the game for Rangers and put them well on their way to 9 in a row.