Scottish Premier League 2007–08: Rangers vs. Celtic

Sunday, October 21, 2007

October 20, 2007
14:30 (UTC)
Rangers 3–0 Celtic Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland
Attendance: 50,428
Referee: Mike McCurry
Novo Scored after 28 minutes 28'
Ferguson Scored after 57 minutes 57'
Cousin Substituted off after 75 minutes 75'
Beasley Substituted on after 75 minutes 75'
Novo Scored after 79 minutes 79' (pen)
Novo Substituted off after 80 minutes 80'
Naismith Substituted on after 80 minutes 80'
Hutton Booked after 89 minutes 89'
McGregor Booked after 89 minutes 89'
Booked after 5 minutes 5' McDonald
Booked after 25 minutes 25' Donati
Booked after 32 minutes 32' Brown
Substituted off after 46 minutes 46' McManus
Substituted on after 46 minutes 46' Kennedy
Booked after 54 minutes 54' Kennedy
Substituted off after 59 minutes 59' Nakamura
Substituted on after 59 minutes 59' McGeady
Booked after 61 minutes 61' McGeady
Booked after 71 minutes 71' Jarosik
Booked after 89 minutes 89' Naylor
Booked after 89 minutes 89' Boruc
Booked after 90 minutes 90' O'Dea

The first Old Firm Derby of the 2007-08 Scottish Premier League ended in a 3-0 victory for Rangers over Celtic.

The result brings the two clubs level on points at the top of the table, although Rangers are ranked second on goal difference.

The first chance of the match fell to Celtic when Scott McDonald, who played as a lone striker, tried an overhead kick which went wide. However Rangers took the lead when Nacho Novo headed a goal just inside the half hour mark. Barry Ferguson scored Rangers' second goal soon after half time, while Novo scored a penalty to add their third with ten minutes remaining.

Rangers manager Walter Smith had claimed last season's derby victories over Celtic meant nothing, because Celtic were already Scottish champions in theory. This result could determine if Rangers win the championship, but Smith said that there was a "long way to go" before the title could be decided. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said that his side had failed to take the chances they made.

Statistics

Statistics
Statistic Rangers Celtic
Possession: 52% 48%
Total Shots: 12 13
Shots on Goal: 6 8
Fouls: 16 26
Offsides: 1 8
Corner Kicks: 3 4

Sources