Something you didn't think you'd hear/read....

[Boab 73]

Full quote: Rangers were perhaps a bit fortunate not to be behind at the interval but the players, who were being well marshalled by Svensson in the heart of defence, still had a chance to take all three points after the restart.

Is that something you're bound to hear down the pub? But then he was captain at Gothenburg?

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Disappointment For Second String

By Neil Smith at Parkhead

A 67th minute penalty kick from Celtic midfielder Mark Millar was enough to secure three points when Rangers travelled to Parkhead this afternoon.

Willie McStay's side have enjoyed a hugely successful league campaign in 2006/07 having already won 17 games going in to today's clash and, on the day, they proved too strong for the Gers second string.

Andrew Little Both coaches elected to field relatively young teams although Libor Sionko and Karl Svensson added a bit of first team experience to the Gers while Scotland striker Craig Beattie and Gary Irvine were in Celtic's starting line-up.

The home side started confidently and Lee Robinson was given an early scare after only seven minutes when defender Scott Cuthbert produced a looping header which hit the underside of the bar before Ryan Conroy hammered a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

Celtic's No. 11 then tried his luck from a set piece 25-yards from goal but his dipping free-kick cleared the cross bar.

At this stage Rangers were riding their luck and they got a big break on 14 minutes when Beattie played a delightful pass to Theodor Bjarnason on the right side of the 18-yard box.

The defender smashed a drive across the face of goal but Conroy slipped as he went to shoot into the empty net and his effort was cleared off the line.

Beattie was next up to go in search of an opening goal but his 20-yard shot was brilliantly saved by Robinson.

Rangers were struggling to cope with Celtic's attacking movement in the opening quarter and Beattie showed his frustration after Gers defender Ross Harvey had clattered him from behind with a rash challenge. Both players were booked as a result.

The Light Blues, who were being managed by Billy Kirkwood in the absence of Ian Durrant, put a halt to the home side's early dominance as the game progressed and at referee Frank McDermott's Craig McSheahalf-time whistle the game remained goalless.

Rangers were perhaps a bit fortunate not to be behind at the interval but the players, who were being well marshalled by Svensson in the heart of defence, still had a chance to take all three points after the restart.

Neither coach made any changes to their team as play resumed for the second-half although it was clear that Sionko on the right wing and Craig McShea on the left had been instructed to push up and provide more support to lone striker Andrew Little.

Indeed it was McShea who brought out the first save Michael McGovern on 51 minutes with a low shot which the Celtic keeper did well to palm away to safety.

After a difficult opening to the game Rangers' confidence was growing and Ross Harvey, who was playing at the back alongside Svensson, looked to have got to grips with the pace of Beattie and his strike partner Kjartan Finnbogason.

Rangers then had another chance to open the scoring on 57 minutes after Sionko was fouled on the right-wing by Theodor Bjarnason.

Stephen Stirling whipped in a dangerous free-kick but McGovern and Jerome van den Broeck challenged for the ball in the air and the ball went out for a corner kick.

Makhtar N'DiayeKirkwood decided to make his first tactical change on 65 minutes when Adda Djeziri replaced McShea.

The towering winger, on loan from BK Frem in Denmark, was asked to play on the left wing as Rangers looked to make their second-half pressure count.

Those plans, however, were turned on their head two minutes later when Celtic, against the run of play, were awarded a penalty after Paul Caddis had been brought down in the box by Makhtar N'Diaye.

Mark Millar stepped up to take the spot kick and the midfielder blasted the ball beyond Robinson into the back of the net.

Having got their noses in front the Hoops looked to double their advantage quickly and Finnbogason had a deflected shot well saved by Robinson before Beattie rattled the bar with a 20-yard shot.

Rangers pushed forward as the clock ticked down, in search of a late equaliser but it was not to be and Celtic held on to record their 18th win of the season.

On what was a disappointing day for the Murray Park youngsters Stephen Stirling was then given a red card by the referee a second bookable offence with a minute remaining.

CELTIC: McGovern, Caddis, Irvine, Bjanason, Cuthbert, Reid, Riley, Millar, Beattie, Finnbogason, Conroy

Subs Not Used: Fox, Richardson, Carey, Sheridan, Cawley

RANGERS: Robinson, Lowing, Donald, Svensson, Harvey, N'Diaye, Sionko, Stirling, Little, McShea (Djeziri 65), van den Broeck (Craig 75)

Subs Not Used: Sagar, Cherif, Hutton, Gallacher

Referee: Frank McDermott

[nvager 498]

Disappointing indeed. Svensson???????????