Celtic Progress Amidst Chaotic Scenes in Rangers Scottish Cup Replay

Celtic Progress Amidst Chaotic Scenes In Rangers Scottish Cup Replay (videos included)

Never a dull moment when the old firm are involved

In the Scottish Cup Fifth Round replay tonight at Celtic Park, bookies had favourites Celtic to match their 3-0 victory from last weekend and progress to the next round against Inverness Caley Thistle. The old firm matches of recent have been remembered more for yellow and red cards than the on-field play, and tonight's match was no different.

It started off slow enough, as it took 10 minutes before the referee, who had a excellent match despite difficult circumstances, had to speak to a belligerent Scott Brown and El Hadji Diouf at the edge of the box whilst waiting for a corner.

Celtic keeper for the night, Zaluska, tried to liven things up for the crowd when he strangely ran from his box to try and clear a long ball as there were defenders all over the place, but managed to escape without conceding.

However the first real incident of the match came at 35 minutes.

The Rangers' Steven Whittaker managed to get himself red-carded for a second yellow offense, but it was the afters that took place on the touchline between Diouf, Lennon and the backroom staff that stole the TV camera's attention away from Whittaker making the long walk to the dressing room. This was to be the first of a few handbag moments during a torrid affair.

American Maurice Edu nearly gifted Celtic a goal with a slack back pass to McGregor. The pass was picked up by Samaras, who was kept out by an Andy Goram-like save to keep his side in the match and Edu sighed with relief that his keeper was in top form.

Just prior to halftime, Brown for Celtic earned a yellow card for a two-footed challenge on fellow Scotsman Davie Weir, that on another day would have seen him walk.

Strangely, there were only two added minutes to be played at the end of the 45 despite the rumpus that followed the Whittaker red card taking three full minutes.

As if on cue and expected by most of the watching TV viewers, the tunnel erupted into bedlam with Celtic coach Mjallby seeming to antagonise on-loan Arsenal defender Bartley with police, stewards and other officials becoming embroiled in the fracas.

The second half was to be equally explosive right to the very end.

The deadlock was broken only a couple of minutes in the second half when a Wilson thunderbolt from 15 yards out knocked Papac out cold as he cleared from the line. The deflection landed right at the feet of Wilson, who appeared to scuff his next effort into the ground. As it spun wildly in the air, it bounced over a stranded McGregor in the Rangers' goal and into the roof of the net.

Papac remained on the ground for a further four-full minutes receiving treatment before the match could resume after the doctors worked on his head knock.

The match continued much in the same vein for the remaining 40 minutes with Celtic dominating proceedings thanks to superior numbers.

There were of course the numerous yellow cards handed out as the players' tempers flared from time to time. This spilled over once again before the end of the 90-plus four minutes when Bougherra made a reckless challenge on the touchline earning himself a second yellow. His efforts to hold the referee's hands down in order to stop the card being shown was not going to stop the official producing the card.

Shortly after the ref blew the whistle for full time, Celtic had earned the spot for the next round.

Lennon and McCoist made the ending cordial, shaking hands, but Lennon appeared to whisper something into the Rangers' boss-to-be's ear, sparking a nasty war of words  and they had to be separated by officials and police.

As the players started leaving the field, Diouf was shown a red card for as yet unknown reasons. In a show of defiance, Diouf wanted to throw his shirt into the Rangers' supporters section, but the police and stewards strangely tried to stop him, but he still managed to toss the shirt over the heads of the spoilsports and end the match in more controversy.

Celtic dominated this match more or less without any challenge on their own goal but struggled to make headway into the game with efforts on goal, but the one goal they did score was enough to take them through.

The repercussions from this match will be felt and heard for the next few days in the press, and with Neil Lennons six-match ban appeal due to be heard tomorrow, tonight's incidents that he was involved in will not help his cause. He may even persuade the panel to increase the term for his ban but that's a story for another day.



To view numerous clips from tonight's match, click here >>