Celtic 0-0 Rangers

Celtic maintained their unbeaten run with a goalless draw at Celtic Park, to remain 23 points ahead of Rangers. In a tight affair, neither team showed the creativity, imagination and quality to open the opposition defence up. The point allowed Rangers to move within four points of second-top Hearts as the fight for the second Champions League place looks like it will go down to the wire.

Before the match, both sets of supporters unfurled banners against sectarianism and racism following the recent threat of Uefa action after Rangers fans' chants in the Champions League. Possibly attempts to induce a less bitter atmosphere in the stands perhaps contributed to a more subdued style of play on the park. However the fact the league Championship was also tied up a while ago must be taken into consideration as this gave Celtic the luxury of keeping poccession without much urgency to get forward.

Stilian Petrov started for Celtic despite handing in a transfer request on Friday and Nakamura was suprisingly left on the bench, with Maloney starting in his place. If there was ever a day Celtic could relax and play good football this was it, however the way Strachan set-up the team one may have thought we were playing Barcelona. Barry Ferguson's place was taken in the Rangers team by Gavin Rae who was on the comeback trail from surgery.

In a tight opening it was the champions who created the better chances. Hartson was found unmarked by a superb Zurawski overhead kick cross, but the Welsh striker mis-hit his volley from 14 yards under extreme pressure from Julien Rodriguez. Waterreus then pulled off a fine stop minutes later, parrying a curling Maloney free-kick clear one-handed to safety.

The controversial Dutchman had to be on his toes when he raced off his line to block Zurawski's goal-bound effort after the striker was beautifully played into the penalty area.

Rangers offered absolutely nothing going forward in the first period despite the importance of the match for their team. Boruc didn't have a save to make and Celtic were looking comfortable, if not impressive as the half-time whistle blew.

But the Ibrox men should have taken the lead immediately after the break. Burke missed the best chance of the game as he blasted over with the goal gaping after a fine run and cross from stand-in captain Prso. The Croatian was causing problems on the right side of the Celtic defence as Telfer was struggling to contain him.

Prso almost got on the scoresheet himself but he was denied by a superb save from Boruc, the goalkeeper turning the Croatia striker's header on to the post. The largely dissapointing Kris Boyd headed over from the resulting corner after Boruc failed to collect the cross.

Celtic were improved slightly when Nakamura replaced Roy Keane as Celtic showed glimpses of what they are capable off. Waterreus had to get down smartly to turn a Maloney snap-shot from 25 yards wide of his near post.

Despite Rangers needing the three points, the game ebbed out without incidence leaving qualification for next seasons Champions League still out of their hands. Rangers remain 23 points behind the Champions and will be looking for us to do them a turn next week. On the evidence of this performance, freshening the team up might actually hinder Hearts more with the likes of McGeady and Pearson bursting a gut to show what they can do to name a couple as on the day, a mediocre Rangers side deseved their point.


Celtic (4-4-2):

Boruc

Telfer Varga McManus Wilson

Petrov Lennon Keane(Nakamura 61) Maloney(McGeady 81)

Zurawski Hartson(Dublin 84)

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Wallace.


Rangers: Waterreus, Hutton, Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Smith, Burke(Ashikodi 90), Gavin Rae, Hemdani, Buffel, Prso, Kris Boyd(Novo 70)

Subs Not Used: Klos, Andrews, Alex Rae, Malcolm


Attendance: 59,684

Referee: C Thomson