Key occasions
29 min Yup, Celtic are knocking it about properly now. I’m wanting ahead to Brendan explaining precisely why all of it’s his doing.
27 min We mentioned this pre-match, however thus far, Celtic’s further attacking class telling. I do know their aim was a fluke, nevertheless it got here as a result of they pinpointed a specific Rangers weak spot, and I’d not be shocked in the event that they managed a second earlier than half-time.
25 min Once more, Maeda runs at Tavernier, who will get in effectively to win the ball. Celtic, although, win again possession excessive up and O’Reilly slides in Maeda, left aspect of the field, who opens his physique aiming for the far nook, solely to go a secure effort far too near Butland, who parries clear a shiot he ought to not have smelt. And nonetheless Celtic maintain the assault, Hatate shifting it one outdoors the field earlier than lashing a shot simply huge of the far publish! For all Rangers’ huffing, these had been two probabilities much better than something they’ve managed in open play.
24 min WHAT A CHANCE GOLDSON! The nook picks him out and he pulls off Carter-Vickers … however mistimes his leap, the ball coming off his shoulder and flying excessive!
23 min The ball bobbles about in midfield, then Rangers win one other free-kick, so Tavernier will once more stick a ball into the wind …or not, as a substitute punching a straight go dow the close to aspect of the wall for Fabio Silva, whose tried cross wins a nook.
22 min And right here they go once more, Dessers charging goalwards however cannily ushered away by Carter-Vickers.
20 min Kuhn pulls again Sterling and is booked – apparently due to the fouls beforehand administered by his teammates.
18 min Celtic should’ve recognized a weak spot in Butland’s kicking as a result of Kyogo slides in on him as he kicks, not for the primary time. He’ll not be allowed to only construct the play right here, however as I sort Lawrence performs a poor go after Dessers wins a problem with Carter-Vickers. Already, it is a bodily battle, and at present the defender is successful it.
17 min Kyogo drops off and win the ball, and although his onward go is simply too sturdy, his crew are steadily rising into the sport, taking part in extra of it within the Rangers half.
16 min Dessers and Carter-Vickers leap for a protracted ball however Fabio Silva can’t activate it when it drops to him. To date, Rangers have lacked high quality in attacking areas.
15 min The Celtic defenders look actually up for this, however Rangers will take coronary heart that already, they’ve been pressured to make some determined tackles.
13 min We stated Celtic could be concentrating on the area in behind Tavernier and they’re, Hatate striding by means of midfield and sliding a go contained in the Rangers skipper for Maeda, whose low cross is simply too sturdy for Kyogo.
12 min Celtic have barely had a kick since taking the lead, however now Kyogo worries Butland, chasing him down and forcing a rushed clearance.
11 min Now Scales – whose nickname is, I belief, Prunella – wins a problem with Fabio Silva. There are appeals for a penalty however once more, he timed his intervention effectively.
10 min Carter-Vickers prevents Sterling taking a fast free-kick then toes the ball away for further winding; one way or the other, he avoids a card.
9 min Scales sees Wright racing in behind him, so leaps into a superb sliding problem, taking the entire ball however leaving Wright in a heap. He should’ve landed awkwardly however must be advantageous.
7 min “Your image of the principle stand at Ibrox led me to questioning,” says Phil Withall, “has any non-playing individual had an even bigger affect on British soccer than Archibald Leitch? In all probability not the proper time to ask, what with an Outdated-Agency match about to kick off, however I’m intrigued.”
Good query. I assume there are directors, dictators and proxies with an excellent declare too, however Leitch did some unbelievable work – although, in fact, his involvement within the Ibrox Stadium catastrophe can’t be ignored.
6 min Since conceding, Rangers have dominated possession, nevertheless it’s all a bit frantic and, a aim down, they will’t actually afford that type of recreation lest they concede one other.
5 min …immediately into the fingers of Joe Hart. He’s had higher 5 minutes.
5 min Rangers win a free-kick out on the proper, Tavernier to swing over a cross…
3 min Rangers will really feel they’ve nonetheless an opportunity in the event that they lose at this time, however actually because the challengers, you’re feeling they need to take this chance to get in entrance.
1 min The quickest Outdated Agency aim stays Chris Sutton’s after 19 seconds. I’m in search of it…
OH MY COMPLETE AND UTTER DAYS GOAL! Rangers 0-1 Celtic (Maeda 21 secs)
A hump from Hart, Tavernier dithers then seems to be to clear, as a substitute kicking into Maeda’s shin, the ball flying previous Butland from 20 yards; what a begin that’s! And within the floor, with no away followers, nearly eerie almost-silence.
1 min And off we go…
Blue flares, tickertape and Tina Turner. What extra might anybody probably need?
…and right here they arrive!
Our groups are tunnelled…
The noise is ramping up contained in the groond; Rangers hans have been giving plastic blue macs to put on, however one lad is topless, a balaclava defending his identification. He does so love the soccer!
Clement, carrying Rangers of uniform of v-neck faculty jumper beneath blazer with tie, notes that his membership haven’t gained many Outdated Agency video games of late. However they’ve improved so much the previous few months, based on factors and date, and he desires to see an excellent recreation along with his crew taking part in effectively. He expects Cantwell to play later within the recreation, simply that Lawrence was what he wished from the beginning for this particular fixture, whereas Barisic was in poor health within the week and Dujon has the power to defend and assault.
That Celtic midfield three of Hatate, Iwate, O’Reilly seems to be sturdy doesn’t it? I’m certain Rangers can have plans to disrupt them, but when Diomande and Lundstram are serving to shield their defence, they’ll have an opportunity to manage the center of the pitch.
The Ibrox fundamental stand although, what a murals.
Brendan speaks, and he thinks the Outdated Agency video games are all the time massive. He’s excited to see his crew play, however there are nonetheless six video games to return after this one, including that McGregor will play some half within the recreation – he simply isn’t match match.
In some video games, he thinks Kyogo is denied area, however in opposition to Rangers he’s acquired a bit extra through which to work and is a part of a entrance line that ought to penetrate. His crew have achieved effectively within the derbies this season – they weren’t anticipated to win at Ibrox earlier within the season but they did.
These stating a minor typo may wish to know that cricket options the “lower shot”. Sure, I actually have achieved it.
I’m wondering if, although Maeda shall be on the left, Kyogo can even be trying to assault the area in behind Tavernier. Philippe Clement is aware of that his skipper must defend, however will presumably have a plan for getting him into the sport going ahead; I sense a taxing afternoon for Scott Wright, stationed forward of him.
4 crimson playing cards, says you? All the things that nobody desires to see, says I.
The basic Outdated Agency recreation?
Celtic, in the meantime, will look to maintain the ball and get their fast passing going, pulling the Rangers centre-backs out of place by dropping off with the huge attackers trying to get into the field and midfielders operating previous the false 9.
The place is the sport? My guess is that Rangers look to maintain issues tight – they’ll need their midfield three to sit down down the area in entrance of the again 4 the place Kyogo wish to function. They’ll be trying to double-up when attacking down the proper, and to attempt to get crosses into the field with the highest of making confusion.
On Sky, Chris Sutton has simply interviewed Henrik Larsson, however on that subject I like to recommend this:
As for Celtic, Brendan Rodgers is again on the bench after his touchline ban for criticising a ref – the identical ref who takes cost of at this time’s recreation – which I’d have thought of extending it for the way in which he spoke to a reporter. He names an unchanged aspect with skipper Callum McGregor solely match sufficient for the bench.
So what does all of it imply? Effectively Rangers make two modifications, Dujon Sterling in for Borna Barisic at left-back and Tom Lawrence changing Todd Cantwell in midfield. These look defensive-ish modifications to me, however we will see.
Groups!
Rangers (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Sterling; Diomande, Lundstram; Wright, Lawrence, Silva; Dessers. Subs: McCrorie, Cantwell, Matondo, Sima, Dowell, Balogun, Barisic, King, McCausland.
Celtic: Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; O’Riley, Iwata, Hatate; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda. Subs: Bain, Idah, Yang, Nawrocki, Bernardo, McGregor, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh.
Preamble
Soccer is a worldwide phenomenon, its distinctive mild enveloping the planet as disparate peoples come collectively, transfixed by the hypnotic fantastic thing about the gorgeous recreation. Aye proper, after which there’s Rangers v Celtic.
As a result of for all of the patter – touching tales from right here and social commentary from there – some issues cant be intellectualised and sentimentalised, not even by the Guardian, and when it comes right down to it, the Outdated Agency rammy stands alone.
However even in that context, at this time’s match is particular, a howling, screeching, whirling Glesga of a match. Celtic, going for a 3rd straight title and a twelfth out of 13, lead the desk by some extent and can think about themselves favourites. However Rangers have a recreation in hand, residence benefit, and the boldness that they’re well-placed within the closes race for years – one many thought would already be over.
Which is is to say the groups arrive at Ibrox Stadium beneath all types of strain and managing all types of expectations, the insanity of the world transmogrified by way of the medium of interpretive soccer. That is going to be intense.
Kick-off: 12pm BST
