Scottish football's fiercest rivalry played out its latest episode as Rangers refused to give Premier League champions Celtic a traditional guard of honor before beating them 2-0 in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
An unwritten rule in football exists that dictates that should a team win the title, the players of their next opponents are obliged to form a guard of honor consisting of two rows of players applauding the champions onto the pitch as a mark of respect to their achievement.
Celtic club legend Alan Stubbs and manager Neil Lennon had scorned Rangers for not providing the customary gesture as players make their way to the field, despite having spurned opportunities to do the same when the shoe was on the other foot, and therefore being accused of hypocrisy by some sections of support.
The teams made their way onto the field at the same time, without any Rangers players forming an honorable guard.
The sides have a history of sharing fiery derbies that have at times boiled over into sectarian violence. This time however, a rather more tame affair was played out at Ibrox, with only pride to play for for either side.
It took the home side just two minutes to open the scoring, through captain James Tavernier. His free kick from the left hand side evaded everyone in the Celtic area to swing into the bottom hand corner of Celts keeper Scott Bain’s goal. Most observers felt Bain could have done better in dealing with the cross.
Jack Arfield doubled the scoring just after the hour mark by after latching onto a pass from Glen Kamara that was deliciously dummied by veteran Jermain Defoe, who nonchalantly allowed the ball to pass through his legs and onto the onrushing Arfield to slot past Bain.
Defoe had the chance to double the lead on 78 minutes, but his shot was saved and the follow up shot bounced off the top of the Celtic bar before a save from Wes Foderingham on 84 minutes, who was standing in for the suspended Allan McGregor, prevented Celtic from pulling one back with their first attempt on target.
The game stayed at 2-0, with Rangers salvaging some pride from a season in which they have trailed their bitter rivals by a large margin for most of the season. For Celtic, they found solace in their eighth championship in a row with one for round of games to go in the league's second phase.
Source : RT - Daily news
Salt in the wound - Rangers bag 2-0 Old Firm win after guard of honor SNUB to champs Celtic
Salt in the wound - Rangers bag 2-0 Old Firm win after guard of honor SNUB to champs Celtic
