| Written by Bazza |
| Monday, 16 February 2009 |
|
The Games
The most important part of this week’s round up can only really concentrate on one thing, the Old Firm game. The old adage of “A game of two halves” could not have been more appropriately demonstrated as Rangers looked to stifle the game in the first. Walter's 4-1-4-1 formation, with the eyebrow raising selections of McCulloch and Lafferty, really didn’t click as we were extremely wasteful in possession, and we gave what can only be described as a poor Celtic side an easy ride. In the second half, we showed a lot more of what we could do and left us feeling a little down, although not devastated, in the way we bossed the midfield and created enough chances to have grabbed a winner. This was allegedly down to the half-time team talk/shouting by Walter.
Bougherra admitted: "That's the angriest I have seen him since I came to Rangers and I can understand why he was like that. He talked to us at half-time and you could see the difference in our spirit and performance after the break. "We were much better and looked more motivated. It is good when the gaffer pushes you like that, as you can sometimes be sloppy."
As always, these games aren’t without controversy, and when Miller was brought down inside the box, the attention turned to the rookie ref, who carried on with the game as though nothing had happened. The fans weren’t the only ones left a little bemused... Miller said: "These things don't just make the difference in terms of winning matches; they could have a big bearing on the entire title campaign. If it had happened anywhere else on the pitch, it would have been a foul. No question.” Overall, although we as fans always like to have a good grumble, a draw, a point and a retention of a two-point gap to them really isn’t that bad of a result, especially when the last SPL game against them is at the Brox. Walter summed up the day by saying, "We didn't play well in the first half and when we line up in the manner that we did, if we don't keep good possession of the ball, then we don't get any opportunities. "So in the context of the second half we are disappointed not to have won, but over the 90 minutes, we have to be happy with a draw."
The SPL race is still on and we do look more confident at present and on the better run. I get the funny feeling though that there will be plenty of twists and turns yet. **********
The Under 19’s had their own big day in the quarter final of the Scottish Youth Cup and this game couldn’t have been as far removed from the OF game as it was. A dramatic 4-3 win at Fir Park was won in extra time as Naismith chose the 116th minute to save the tension of a penalty shootout. Motherwell had had to come back from 2-0 down at half time to lead 3-2 with just 15 minutes left. It was then that super sub Naismith scored a 35-yard screamer to level things up before Campbell struck the foot of the post on 90 minutes to see the game head for extra time. |
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