Scottish Premier League - Advantage Rangers as Celtic held

Eurosport - Mon, 18 May 08:58:00 2009

The SPL title race was taken out of Celtic's hands after they were held to a goalless draw by a gutsy Hibernian side at Easter Road.

FOOTBALL Hibernian's(Hibs) John Rankin(C) falls forward after a challenge from Celtic's Lee Naylor(L) and Shunsuke Nakamura during their Scottish Premier League - 0

Rangers now hold a two point lead going into the final match of the season and will win the title if they can beat Dundee United at Tannadice next weekend.

Celtic meanwhile, will have to beat Hearts at Celtic Park and hope Rangers slip up or their dream of winning four titles in a row will be over.

They camped out in Hibernian's half for long periods but Mixu Paatelainen's side were supremely well organised and defended with discipline, marshalled by captain Rob Jones.

It was the second time in the space of a week that Hibernian have played a key role in the title race as they also drew with Rangers 1-1 last Wednesday.

Celtic dominated possession in the opening period but struggled to create chances against a well-oiled Hibernian defence.

They had to wait until first-half stoppage time for their best chance of the opening period as Scott McDonald superbly took down a long punt up field only to then drag his shot just wide of the target.

Hibs adopted a conservative gameplan but they nearly took the lead in the 23rd minutes when Steven Fletcher beat the offside trap before meeting a little chip through with a superb overhead kick only for Artur Boruc to save.

If Celtic were in charge in the first-half they were completely dominant in the second but while the half was played almost exclusively in the Hibernian half, the home side again made sure that chances did not come easy.

It was all crosses into the box and frenzied build-up play from Celtic but the only time they really cut open Hibs was when McDonald played a one-two with substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on the edge of the area but Yves Ma-Kalambay came out quickly to narrow the angle and make a fine save.

Ma-Kalambay had an excellent game for Hibs as he dealt with many of the crosses flung into the penalty area but the real hero was Jones who was there with key headers and tackles throughout the match.

The final whistle brought dejection from the Celtic players and fans as they now know that they need a massive favour from Dundee United to win the title.

They will at least be glad that their final match is at Celtic Park because it has been their away form that has allowed Rangers to take the initiative in the title race.

The draw at Easter Road means that Celtic have now won just two of their last 10 away matches and ultimately that type of form could cost them their SPL crown.

Seán Fay / Eurosport

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  1. lightspeed what people are you ? you knobend

    From sirstevejones14, on Wed 20 May 6:55AM

  2. i see th c ancer is back on line in time for th last­ dance !

    From zzgus f, on Wed 20 May 5:39AM

  3. haigys come out of hiding to spout his usual piss­ forget it ya inbread waste of space

    From paul, on Tue 19 May 4:46PM

  4. chris and steve jones = a complete pair of shitstabbing­ pussyarses .NO SURRENDERRRRRRRRR WE R THE PEOPLE !!!

    From lightspeedmorpheus, on Tue 19 May 8:49AM

  5. i have faith in the mighty tangerine terrors to beat­ this english cancer that has affected this nation

    From sirstevejones14, on Tue 19 May 5:18AM

  6. "uneffective"
    I made a mistake in my initial­ point.

    I had a feeling that you would probably wait­ and post your retaliation while i was gone.
    So i gave­ you abit of ammo as a means of dragging you back­ in.
    Which in hindsight, Is not only childish,. It's­ hurting my own cause.

    I guess my attack was­ unprovoked. I noted that you were quite smug and though­ you have attacked afew people on here.
    It was not my­ place to intervene.
    For that, I apologize
    I'm­ sorry, I take back the things i said.
    I was being­ immature.

    From Chris F, on Tue 19 May 3:58AM

  7. I'm not upset, Steve. Quite the opposite. I find­ your stupidity amusing.

    Again you stray back to your­ "council house" insults, back to your­ baseless assumptions.

    Do you even realise how­ uneffective your insults really are?
    I'm not­ English, I don't have a council house and i­ don't worship the queen.
    How simple was that to­ refute your pointless insults?

    But hey, Looks like i­ touched a nerve. I didn't even go that far. I only­ mentioned the one capital.
    I missed out the part where­ you forgot to put a full stop at the end. I wish i­ didn't now.
    But it's always good to ruffle a­ neds feathers. But English is never their strong­ point.

    Next time you try to throw around aimless­ insults and boast about your non-existant­ "education".
    Stop and think before you­ type.

    You were just that damn smug, I thought i would­ prove how thick and brainless you really are.

    And fu­ ck was it easy.
    I'm done. But it was fun while it­ lasted. Au revior.

    From Chris F, on Tue 19 May 3:14AM

  8. Chris I dod not know you had to use correct english to­ post on here, from now on I will remember the capital­ letters to try and refrain from upsetting you, saying­ that reading all those posts it must upset you that no­ one else seems to bother with the capitals ether. Now­ f$$k off and go play with yourself in your sad little­ council bedsit you disease ridden piece of scum, I am­ not going to answer anymore to the filth that comes out­ of your filthy english sewar you queen worshipping­ english tramp

    From sirstevejones14, on Tue 19 May 1:54AM

  9. Looks like wee Stevies going green, He's recycling­ the same old sh it. Day after day.

    How am i a­ disgrace to Scotland? Come on, lets see you justify­ it.
    Scotland has a capital letter by the way, It's­ a country.
    So much for this glorious education of yours­ that you keep trying to boast about.

    From Chris F, on Tue 19 May 12:58AM

  10. chris f you need to get an education and a life you are­ a disgrace to scotland

    From sirstevejones14, on Tue 19 May 12:21AM

  11. i see haig and paul g the bile boys are back out­ posting there bigoted views

    From sirstevejones14, on Tue 19 May 12:21AM

  12. I thought it was a red hand of ulster badge LOL

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Mon 18 May 10:37PM

  13. TOM R ANSWER MY POINT 391 NA COS U CANT SHUT U UP YET­ AGAIN

    From n.haig123, on Mon 18 May 10:35PM

  14. Tom R is this short for Thomas @#$% I have never heard­ so much p.i.s.h. go and play on the M74 Build My­ Gallows build them high. God Save The Queen

    From Grim Reaper, on Mon 18 May 10:34PM

  15. HATS OFF TO CELTIC A GOAL FAMINE IN SUPPORT OF IRISH­ FAMINE DAY THEY JUST NEVER SHOWED ENOUGH HUNGER

    From n.haig123, on Mon 18 May 10:26PM

  16. by the way my views r total diffrerent from tomr how­ i'm i a son of ireland if i was born in scotland­ and by the way i'm dysletic

    From spud, on Mon 18 May 10:23PM

  17. 51 AND COUNTING CLOWN 51 AND COUNTING FENIAN

    From n.haig123, on Mon 18 May 10:21PM

  18. YET ANOTHER FACT LISTEN CAREFULLY ON SUNDAY 17TH MAY­ 2009 GLASGOW CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB OPTED TO DISPLAY AN­ ADDITIONAL BADGE ON THERE JERSEY TO HONOUR NATIONAL­ FAMINE MEMORIAL DAY . THE SAME GLASGOW CELTIC FOOTBALL­ CLUB WHO ON AUGUST 31ST 2008 ANNOUNCED THERE DISGUST AT­ A SONG SUNG BY RANGERS SUPPORTERS AS THIS OFFENSIVE­ SONG HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SCOTTISH FOOTBALL. IN­ DISPLAYING THIS EMBLAM GLASGOW CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB HAS­ SHOWN THE WORLD IT IS RUN BY BIGOTS HYPOCRITES AND­ PETTY IRISH IDIOTS. AT TANNADICE ON SUNDAY WE MUST LET­ THEM KNOW WITHOUT FEAR THE FAMINES OVER Y DONT U GO­ HOME

    From n.haig123, on Mon 18 May 10:20PM

  19. NHAIG U @#$% VERMIN ANIMAL.....YOU DO YOUR HISTORY AND­ MATHS....OR ASK A CELTIC MAN TO HELP U....IF WE WERENT­ HERE TIL 1888 YA RE.TA.RD???

    From TomR, on Mon 18 May 9:56PM

  20. BRI THAT TOM R IS A CLOWN U HIT HIM WITH FACTS AND ALL­ HE SAYS 4IN A ROW YAWN YAWN YAWN YAWN. HE CANT ANSWER­ WOT IVE SAID EARLIER COS FACTS MY FRIEND ALWAYS GET TO­ THE BEGGARS. 51 AND COUNTING BEGGARS I SAY AGAIN 51 AND­ COUNTING AND WE REALLY REALLY DO WELCOME THE CHASE

    From n.haig123, on Mon 18 May 9:42PM
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