Game of the Week – Rangers vs. Celtic
Two teams do not make a competition, but it is clear that Rangers and Celtic start as the favourites for any major Scottish competition. The view that a general landscape of financial hardship generally evens out the battle does not appear to have been borne out by the Scottish Premier League this season. Hearts have been on a very impressive run of results and have scored victories over the Old Firm at fortress Tynecastle. However, when the stakes have been at their highest, and the encounter has brought the prospect of a repeat of the 2005-06 season, the natural order of the game north of the border has re-established itself. Despite neither of Sunday's combatants being flush with hard currency, it would appear that the often-discussed move to the Premier League may be the only circumstance in which a truly open SPL will emerge. With the draw presenting the tie that it did, whoever emerges victorious may feel that the competition is theirs to lose.
Rangers’ fans often reminisce about the heady days of the 1990s when the Ibrox club had the finance as well as the magnetism to attract quality personnel from England and Europe. Today's side does not contain an Arthur Numan, a Brian Laudrup or a Paul Gascoigne and only recently found a modest bid for talismanic forward Kenny Miller too good to refuse. Walter Smith's functional unit aptly reflects the circumstances in which he finds himself. Rangers still have superior quality to at least ten of their eleven domestic rivals, but the margins have been reduced sufficiently to mean that results are often ground out through wars of attrition. The swaggering domestic demolition jobs of a decade or so ago are nowhere as frequent.
Neil Lennon has done an excellent job in dragging Celtic back from what appeared to be a ruinous period under Tony Mowbray and they are probably the more entertaining side, although with their five point lead weighed up against the Gers' two games in hand, it is fair to say there is barely a cigarette paper between the two.
Both clubs have recent signings who will be under the spotlight in their first Old Firm encounter. El Hadji Diouf, an intriguing addition at Ibrox, has a history with Celtic supporters following an unpleasant incident while playing for Liverpool in a 2003 UEFA Cup tie. When the Senegalese striker is focussed he has the flair and guile to make a significant impact, qualities that should give Rangers an extra dimension as the need for victories becomes paramount in the title race. A telling contribution, and a saliva-free afternoon, must be high on the wish list of the home support.
For the visitors, Kris Commons will be looking to build on an impressive debut against Aberdeen that he marked with a goal. The cultured wide man appears to have spent an eternity known for his potential. At 27, and now appearing on the biggest stage of his career, the feeling is that consistent delivery on that promise is overdue. A career that has oscillated between match-winning performances and 90-minute disappearing acts now has a launch pad - an opportunity Commons knows he will have to take.
The contributions of the new players may well be decisive as the two sides, 1-1 this season, go into a 50-50 contest. As both away teams have taken the spoils in the SPL fixtures to date home advantage may not be of significant value. The game is sure to be a 90mph 'thud and blunder' affair, with the outcome likely to rest on who can make best use of the few openings that arise. The loss of Miller could prove pivotal in this regard, and a narrow Celtic victory would keep a domestic double alive while making them huge favourites for the Cup.
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