It’s one of football’s great rivalries: Celtic vs Rangers. We’re treated to our second Old Firm Derby of the season from Celtic Park this morning at 6:45am AEDT. Join us for live scores and a blog of all the action as it unfolds.
The winner will claim outright first on Scottish Premier League table. Rangers triumphed in the first meeting between the two sides earlier in the year, with a 4-2 win at Ibrox back in September.
Football’s great derbies include Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Boca Juniors vs River Plate, AC Milan vs Inter Milan, perhaps even one day Melbourne Heart vs Melbourne Victory.
But Celtic vs Rangers is equally if not more most fierce for the two biggest clubs in Scottish football, with religious history and a hugely cherished rivalry.
Both sides are without European distractions, with the Hoops unlucky to not claim all three points against Udinese and qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League, and Rangers crashing out first in Champions League qualifying and then Europa League, failing to make the group stage of any competition after being toppled by Malmo and Maribor, respectively.
Rangers are coming off a Christmas Eve defeat at St. Mirren and have now lost two of their last three away matches – Celtic are clearly the form team in this one, having claimed 28 of the last 30 possible points, winning the last eight games in the process.
In addition, they’ve not lost at home since August when they were upset by St. Johnstone in their only home defeat of the year so far.
But form means nothing in a heated rivalry such as this, and with the gap at the top of league closed to a solitary point (Rangers were ahead by as many as 10 earlier in the season) the blue side of Glasgow will be determined to take top spot on the table into the new year.
Lee McCulloch will be absent for the visitors having picked up a suspension for his red card in St. Mirren loss, and of course are still missing star striker Steven Naismith who is out for the season.
The home side have very little news on the absentee front, young winger James Forrest is the only doubtful inclusion, claiming hamstring stiffness in last weekend’s victory over Kilmarnock.
As we saw from the last time these two played, scoring is not a problem. Celtic are averaging two goals a game throughout the league season, with Rangers not far behind with 1.85.
The Bhoys will look to Englishman Gary Hooper, their leading scorer and most impressive player. The prolific Naismith will of course not feature for Rangers and they will need a performance from Nikita Jelavic or Kyle Lafferty if they hope to put a dampener on this Celtic winning streak.
These clashes are never without controversy, and rarely without a few goals. A month ago when the gap was ten points, this match seemed more about pride than anything. Now with a red hot Celtic just a point behind their hated neighbours, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Join us just before 6:45am AEDT for all the team news and line-ups before minute by minute commentary of what should be another cracking Old Firm derby.
j binnie
Guest
Did anyone notice? Matt McKay,our Socceroo success story of the year, was not in the team,nor among the 7 man "bench". That can only mean 2 things he is either injured or he is pretty far down the "pecking order" at Ibrox. No doubt Olger will be watching with interest.Not good for Matt. jb
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
Just had a quick read of this blog and it was really great. Good stuff, hope to see more.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
That was a comprehensive victory for Celtic, who now top the SPL after trailing by double digit points just six weeks ago. Aside from that early headed effort, Rangers failed to create much and the home side were more than deserving of a victory. James Forrest was the best on ground, wreaking havoc down the left flank, winning a few fouls and supplying a stream of quality balls from the wing. Rogne was solid at the back as was Kayal through the middle, before he was stretchered off. Bocanegra was perhaps the best for Rangers, but it wasn't a sparkling performance by any means. This is the last league action in Scotland until 2012, and Celtic will enjoy seeing their name occupy top spot on the table over the new year. Thanks for following, feel free to leave any comments or questions in the box - see you next time.
Shaun
Guest
Hell yea! Up the hoops!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME CELTIC 1 RANGERS 0
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
95th min, Celtic 1-0 Lafferty is offside!! Will that be the last action?
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
94th min, Celtic 1-0 Stokes goes into the book for Celtic with a cynical trip on Bocanegra. They'll try to send this one long into the area
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
93rd min, Celtic 1-0 Broadfoot with a foul on Forrest and there's a little bit of handbags, but the referee breaks it up. Celtic free kick on halfway
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
92nd min, Celtic 1-0 And Matthews now with a superb block on Lafferty as he shot from distance
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
91st min, Celtic 1-0 Edu air swings at one on the edge of the box as Rangers still can't fasten a clear chance.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
90th min, Celtic 1-0 5 minutes of added time. Can Celtic hold on?
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Really - he came charging in and the studs were showing, at about knee height. He just grazed him but could have done some serious damage if he'd connected.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
89th min, Celtic 1-0 Samaras wins a free kick off Broadfoot and the visitors are running out of time.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
87th min, Celtic 1-0 Anthony Stokes on for the last couple of minutes, replacing Gary Hooper
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
86th min, Celtic 1-0 And now Lafferty is in the book! He came in with a raised boot as Matthews went to clear the ball and how on earth is that not a red card? The Healy decision debatable, this one not so much.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
85th min, Celtic 1-0 Lafferty gets forward in a rare attack for Rangers, but Matthews recovers to make the tackle and it rolls harmlessly to Fraser Forster.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
84th min, Celtic 1-0 Ki drives one from 25 yards but it's a mile over the bar.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
82nd min, Celtic 1-0 The substitute Healy with a very late sliding tackle on Forrest, and the crowd (and Celtic bench) are baying for a red card, but it's just a yellow. Debatable decision, perhaps? Neil Lennon thinks so.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
81st min, Celtic 1-0 James Forrest again the provider as another dangerous ball is cleared away. Ledley comes with a second cross which again is cleared, and then Celtic win a free kick 30 yards out.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
79th min, Celtic 1-0 Rangers will use their last two subs at once as McCulloch leaves (to heavy boos) along with Wallace, to be replaced by Healy and Edu.