Glasgow Rangers Silence Critics by Hammering Celtic

Glasgow Rangers were written off by many before they travelled to Celtic today, but nevertheless manged to produce their best performance at Celtic Park in a decade.

The 4-2 scoreline didn't flatter Rangers, who took the game to their Old Firm Rivals from the outset.

I must admit, when I heard the team news on my way to the pub it made me pretty sceptical. Kirk Broadfoot back in at right back, Charlie Adam reappearing on the left and the biggest shock of all, Daniel Cousin up front.

Walter Smith has made some bold decisions in his time and to be fair they haven't always worked out, but today he earned his money and I hope the respect of the Ibrox faithful.

Broadfoot was great all day, running at defenders, solid at the back and was even involved in Rangers fourth goal. The clumsy defender has his critics but one must remember he's just doing a job at right back—and today he did that job well!

Charlie Adam is another who gets some serious stick from the home support and to be honest he often deserves it, but today he stood his ground and put in a quality shift. Every Rangers player did a job today and there were no weak links as the scoreline will tell you.

Smith's choice of Daniel Cousin to partner Kenny Miller was brave. Let's actually say very brave. The big Gabon striker is no fan's favourite and had seemed destined to leave the club this summer.

However he was brilliant today, despite the red card, and we wouldn't have won it without him.

The game started well for Rangers as we held possession well and were able to keep Celtic in their own half for large periods. The 50/50 possession stat just before half time is testament to just how far Rangers have come since that defeat in Kaunas.

We were playing football!

37 minutes in, Cousin went on a run that looked to have been ended on the right flank, but the strong striker beat his man and arrowed his way towards goal.

The Rangers players were lining up for the cutback but Cousin somehow manged to slip the ball past Artur Boruc at his near post.

Rangers were ahead 1-0.

The goal gave new meaning to the term "holy goalie" for Artur Boruc as that was some hole he left at his near post!

Cousin ran straight to Ally McCoist in what must be seen as a mark of respect for the legendary assistant coach.

Sadly for Rangers, the goal was almost too much for them and within two minutes Celtic had levelled the match.

A Celtic cross was allowed to bounce in the Rangers box by Bougherra and a poor clearance by Sasa Papac fell straight to Georgios Samaras, who slotted the ball past Alan McGregor.

A bitter blow to an excellent first half.

The second half produced much of the same. Chances at both ends but Rangers were able to hang onto the ball and with the likes of Pedro Mendes pulling the strings, there was the impression Rangers weren't going to settle for a draw.

I haven't even mentioned Kenny Miller yet, on his return to Parkhead the striker was shockingly bad in the first half. Kenny "second touch is a tackle" Miller wouldn't have been too far wrong.

That was all forgotten however when slack Celtic defending allowed a cross to the far post to find Miller who volleyed perfectly into the corner of the net to send the Rangers supporters crazy.

It was a cracking goal!

Amazingly it wasn't finished there either.

A planned corner routine found Pedro Mendes 30 yards out, and the Portuguese midfielder struck his first time shot to perfection. The ball remaining a yard off the ground from his boot too the back of the net.

Unstoppable. Not even the most confident Gers fan had predicted this.

However, it still wasn't over with 25 minutes to go, especially after the sending off of Cousin for a second bookable offence.

He and the two Celtic centre backs had a right good Old Firm struggle with Gary Caldwell, at one stage being sent to the touchline to clean up a bloody eye.

Cousin went too hard one too many times according to the referee, and received his marching orders.

The referee in general had a great game so I'll leave that there.

Celtic somehow seemed out to help Rangers today, as within minutes both teams were down to ten men. Jan Venegoor of Hesselink sent off after kicking out at Broadfoot, just metres from the referee.

It must have been Old Firm fever.

What ever it was, it was affecting Artur Boruc and after great play down the right hand side by Broadfoot it was Boruc's turn to give Rangers a gift, by dropping Broadfoot's cross in the path of that man Kenny Miller. Rangers were 4-1 up away from home.

I honestly couldn't believe it!

Artur Boruc the "Holy Goalie", well he was today!

Celtic scored late on from a Nakamura free kick but who cares.

Rangers have hammered Celtic by four goals to two on their own patch and proved those critics (both in the press and amongst the Ibrox faithful) completely wrong.

The Ibrox club played Celtic off the park today and they did it playing football.

How'd have thought it!