Rangers Hold Celtic To Goalless Draw In Old Firm Derby

Rangers Hold Celtic To Goalless Draw In Old Firm Derby
14:02, 30 Dec 2017

Under Graeme Murty, Rangers’ performances have ranged from the rather impressive to the downright mediocre. Never prior to Saturday’s Old Firm scoreless draw against Celtic at Parkhead, however, have they looked a side capable of matching their cross-city rivals.

This was the sternest league examination they have given the Hoops since winning their place in the Scottish Premiership in the summer of 2016. While they have managed to keep the scoreline tight in previous matches, never before have the offered the same challenge to Brendan Rodgers’ side and shown such match-winning capability.

For a whirlwind period in the second half in the east end Glasgow, though, they carried the belief and energy that was sufficient to have the green and white half of the city quaking.

As Celtic’s performance deteriorated from a largely controlled though unspectacular first-half display into the panicked and sloppy after the break, their blue-clad guests rose to the occasion. Scott Brown had single-handedly won the midfield battle in the first half but as the cohesion of his team-mates wavered, Rangers increased the pace and gained a foothold in the game.

It was a spell that the visitors might have made more of. Craig Gordon athletically turned over a volley from James Tavanier, who showed little of the defensive frailty that he has been notoriously for, while the Scotland international excelled himself by thwarting Alfredo Morelos when the Colombian’s header seemed destined for the bottom corner.

With 12 minutes left, the Premiership’s top scorer had another opportunity to strike, yet from a stunning Tavanier cross he contrived to glance wide.

The ascendancy of Rangers was confirmed by early exit of Moussa Dembele, who had previously enjoyed unbounded success in the Glasgow derby, while Scott Sinclair, another of Celtic’s potential match winners, was hauled off with the best part of 20 minutes to play.

Rarely in recent years has a Scottish team arrived at Celtic Park and played well enough to have the champions on the back foot for such spells.

And yet, Celtic had their chances to win the game.

Sinclair, in particular, will not look back on his final match of 2017 fondly, having spurned the home side’s best opportunities to take three points. He was too tame with an effort from close range, allowing Wes Foderingham to make a comfortable stop, while he allowed an effort in first-half stoppage time to squirt past the post when he really should have found the corner of the net.

It was Rangers’ ability to cope with adversity and bounce back in the second period that was perhaps the most impressive aspect of their performance. Foderingham was equal to everything thrown at him, notably a James Forrest effort that he brilliantly pushed wide for a corner, while a defence that was robbed of Bruno Alves early on due to injury stood up well to both Dembele and later Leigh Griffiths.

A draw is never an entirely satisfactory result in an Old Firm encounter, and that is particularly true for Celtic, who arrived at kick off as heavy favourites to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points over Aberdeen.

Instead of such a healthy advantage at the beginning of 2018, it could be trimmed to just eight.

Rangers, meanwhile, can look forward to three-week winter break with a sense of optimism after such an impressive display – and after their performance at Celtic Park, it is well merited.

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