Sunday, 26th March 2000 Rangers 4 Celtic 0
Bank Of Scotland Scottish Premier League Season 1999/2000 At Ibrox Stadium Reports:- RANGERS 4 CELTIC 0 With the Scottish Premier League trophy all but dusted off with victory at Parkhead earlier this month, Rangers applied a bit of polish at Ibrox to confirm their superiority over Celtic. Jorg Albertz gave Rangers the lead after just four minutes and the home side doubled their tally through Andrei Kanchelskis before half-time. Then they concentrated on turning on the style. Celtic were pulled apart for much of the second half and with six minutes remaining they went to pieces as first Albertz turned in his second goal then Giovanni van Bronckhorst claimed Rangers' fourth. Beforehand Kenny Dalglish had insisted the Glasgow giants had been well-matched this term and that Rangers had ridden their luck in the three previous encounters. Today was different as Dick Advocaat's men extended their League lead over Celtic to a virtually impregnable 15 points with the kind of performance which hinted the table does not lie. Now the pressure will now be on the Parkhead club to explain what plans are in motion for next season after a result which may yet persuade Dalglish against becoming head coach. Last week's CIS Insurance Cup success aside, Celtic's campaign has been a miserable one with John Barnes' short stay at the helm unable to make any impact on Rangers' domestic dominance. Under Dutchman Advocaat there is a ruthlessness about the Ibrox outfit suggesting that aside from the gulf between the Old Firm and the rest there is now a gap in class between the Glasgow pair themselves. There was no place even on the bench for Celtic's Alan Stubbs, presumably because of injury, but the visitors did welcome back Paul Lambert for his first competitive start of the year. The Scotland international, who now comes into contention for Wednesday's friendly with France, suffered ankle ligament damage in the Old Firm clash at Parkhead on December 27. Rangers were without the injured Craig Moore meaning Scott Wilson started, but had Arthur Numan fit again while in another boost to national boss Craig Brown was that Billy Dodds was chosen ahead of Seb Rozental. The pre-match talk had been of Celtic's need to attack from the outset, but instead it was Rangers who moved ahead after only four minutes through Albertz. Van Bronckhorst's corner found Kanchelskis lurking at the far post and he directed the ball back across goal for German midfielder Albertz to nod in from close range. Celtic endured another blow moments later when, in attempting to tackle Rod Wallace, Stephane Mahe suffered what looked like a serious leg injury and had to be carried off. Olivier Tebily filled in at right-back and Celtic mustered an attack as Vidar Riseth's cross enabled Mark Viduka to set up Lubomir Moravcik for a shot on the turn that was blocked. Both sides then struggled to seize control of a frantic game, Jackie McNamara's frustration at Celtic's failure to make an impression showing in a needless booking for dissent. The tackles were by now flying in with referee Willie Young opting to be lenient despite Johnson crashing into Claudio Reyna and Lambert catching van Bronckhorst. The official angered the home support by then, booking Barry Ferguson for a foul on Lambert with Arthur Numan also earning a yellow card for voicing his protests to the official. Johan Mjallby made an important saving tackle to deny Wallace running onto a threaded Albertz pass, but five minutes before the break Rangers were able to double their advantage. Van Bronckhorst was again the man who created it, releasing Kanchelskis for a clear run at goal before the Russian finished calmly by slotting under the advancing Jonathan Gould for 2-0. Celtic needed to make an instant impact after the restart but when Viduka fell in the area under challenge from Lorenzo Amoruso the verdict was a booking for the Australian for diving. Ferguson saw a chip float onto the roof of the net moments later after a fine Reyna pass before the home team did find a way to goal again only to see the effort disallowed. Wallace beat Mjallby on the left before crossing for Dodds who appeared to beat Gould at the second attempt, but referee Young ruled the forward offside. Johnson found the side-netting for Celtic, but by now Rangers were in command with every pass being cheered by the home faithful who must have been stunned at the ease victory was being achieved. Gould kept Celtic in the game with an impressive double save, first thwarting van Bronckhorst from distance then recovering quickly to hold Dodds' rebound. The closest Celtic came was a bizarre mis-kick from Wilson which Reyna needed to hack off the line. Moments later, Rangers replaced the tiring Dodds with another Scotland international, Neil McCann. The winger at once had a shot just over the bar then set up Wallace for a free header which the former Leeds striker conspired to send straight at a grateful Gould. Celtic's final gamble was to bring on Mark Burchill for Lambert and they almost pulled a vital goal back on 71 minutes when Johnson broke clear but Klos was equal to the task. Rangers were eager for a third and should have got it with 13 minutes remaining when Albertz forced his way through only to over-hit his attempted lob over Gould. Their wait was over in the 84th minute when McCann again made ground on the left before crossing for Albertz to hook the ball into an empty net from barely a yard out. Now Celtic were reeling and two minutes later it was 4-0 to Rangers as van Bronckhorst collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled it low past a despairing Gould to complete a resounding victory. Rangers 4-0 Celtic Scottish Premier League Rangers humiliated their Glasgow rivals with a comprehensive drubbing of Celtic at Ibrox that all but decides the destination of this season’s Scottish Premier League title. Two goals from Jorge ‘The Hammer’ Albertz, and one each from Andrei Kanchelskis and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst ensured the result was never in doubt and meant that Rangers now extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points. Bathed in glorious afternoon sunshine, the Rangers faithful were able to watch their team win at a canter, at times knocking the ball around with confidence that verged on arrogance. Celtic’s players were made to chase the ball, like the stand-in players of a practice game, as Rangers reinforced the extent of their dominance in Scotland. Dick Advocaat’s side strolled the first half. Pre-match talk was of the need for Celtic to attack from the first whistle, but they weren’t allowed to as it was Rangers who came out of the traps flying. Van Bronckhorst's corner found Kanchelskis lurking at the far post and he directed the ball back across goal for German midfielder Albertz to nod in from close range with less than five minutes gone. His goal was followed five minutes before the break by Kanchelskis racing clear of a static Celtic defence before slotting the ball home. As the ball nestled in the back of the net, any lingering Celtic hopes of catching Rangers in their march to the title were effectively extinguished. Paul Lambert was making his first competitive start for Celtic since suffering ankle ligament damage in the Old Firm clash at Parkhead on December 27, but it was not a happy return for the 30-year-old. He was substituted with 20 minutes remaining with the score at 2-0. He will at least be consoled by the fact that he wasn’t on the pitch for the final embarrassing blows in the last 10 minutes. In the 84th minute Gavin McCann made ground on the left before crossing for Albertz to hook the ball into an empty net from barely a yard out. Celtic were reeling and just two minutes later they succumbed to their fourth goal of the game as Van Bronckhorst collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled it low past a despairing Jonathan Gould. The score did not flatter Rangers, who were in control from start to finish. Mark Viduka showed flashes of class that threatened to upset the champions-elect, but his day was summed up when he was booked for diving in the area just after the restart. Tommy Johnson found the side-netting for Celtic midway through the second period, but by this time Rangers were in command with every pass being cheered by the home faithful who must have been stunned at the ease with which victory was being achieved. Gould kept Celtic in the game with an impressive double save, first thwarting Van Bronckhorst from distance then recovering quickly to hold Dodds' rebound. Celtic's final gamble was to bring on Mark Burchill for Lambert, but there luck did not change, and when Rangers added their third and fourth, Celtic manager Kenny Dalglish must surely have been seriously questioning the wisdom of taking over the job on a permanent basis. Rangers: Klos, Amoruso, Numan,
Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst, Wallace, Albertz
(Tugay 85), Reyna, Wilson, Dodds (McCann 64) Celtic: Gould, Riseth, Mahe (Tebily
7), Boyd, Mjallby, McNamara, Lambert (Burchill 71),
Petrov, Viduka, Moravcik, Johnson. Att: 50,039 RANGERS 4 CELTIC 0 Scottish Premier League, Sunday, March 26, Ibrox By SIMON O’HARE, Rangers News RAMPANT Rangers tore hopeless Hoops to shreds and virtually wrapped up the league in the process. Jorg Albertz bagged a double and Andrei Kanchelskis and Gio van Bronckhorst weighed in to open up a massive 15-POINT gap at the top of the table. Celtic’s needed to win this one to keep their title hopes alive but it was the Light Blues who moved ahead after only four minutes through Albertz. Van Bronckhorst’s corner found Kanchelskis lurking at the far post and he directed the ball back across goal for the German midfielder to nod in from close range. Celtic endured another blow moments later when in attempting to tackle Rod Wallace, Stephane Mahe suffered what looked like a serious leg injury and had to be carried off. Olivier Tebily came on at right-back and the tackles were by now flying in with referee Willie Young opting to be lenient despite Tommy Johnson crashing into Claudio Reyna and Paul Lambert catching van Bronckhorst. The whistler angered the home support by then booking Barry Ferguson for a foul on Lambert with Numan also earning a yellow card for voicing his protests to the official. Johan Mjallby made an important saving tackle to deny Rod Wallace running onto a threaded Albertz pass but five minutes before the break Gers were able to double their advantage. Van Bronckhorst was again the man who created it releasing Kanchelskis for a clear run at goal before the Russian finished calmly by slotting under the advancing Jonathan Gould. Celtic needed to make an instant impact after the restart but when Mark Viduka fell in the area under challenge from Lorenzo Amoruso the verdict was a booking to the Australian for diving. Barry Ferguson saw a chip float onto the roof of the net moments later after a fine Reyna pass before the home team did find a way to goal again only to see the effort disallowed. Wallace beat Mjallby on the left before crossing for Billy Dodds who appeared to beat Gould at the second attempt but ref Young ruled the Scotland striker had fouled the keeper. Gould then kept Celtic in the game with an impressive double save, first thwarting van Bronckhorst from distance then recovering quickly to hold Dodds’ rebound. Neil McCann then came on for Dodds and in the 84th minute he made ground on the left before crossing for Albertz to hook the ball into an empty net from barely a yard out. The Hoops were praying for full-time to be put out of their misery but the torture wasn’t over yet. And just two minutes later it was a resounding 4-0 to Rangers as van Bronckhorst collected the ball on the edge of the area and drilled it low past a despairing Gould. It was the Light Blues’ biggest win over Celtic since Graeme Souness’ side demolished Hoops 5-1 in 1988. The Match Facts RANGERS: Klos, Amoruso, Numan, Ferguson, Kanchelskis, van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Reyna, Wilson, Wallace, Dodds.Subs: McCann, Tugay, Charbonnier, Nicholson, Penttila. CELTIC: Gould, Riseth, Mahe, Boyd, Mjallby, McNamara, Lambert, Petrov, Viduka, Moravcik, Johnson. Subs: Tebily, Burchill, Kerr, Berkovic, Healy. REFEREE: Willie Young Pictures:-
The SPL League Table After The Game
RANGERS Klos Reyna Amoruso Wilson Numan Kanchelskis Ferguson Albertz (Sub for Tugay) Van Bronckhorst Wallace Dodds (Sub for McCann) Subs: McCann, Tugay, Charbonnier, Nicholson, Penttila. |
