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Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Rangers v Celtic Month













Rangers v Celtic is a special derby at any point, but with two Glasgow derbies coming up in the next fortnight, along with a Cup final meeting in March, where else would be better to spend a weekend that north of the border.

That's where I'm heading this weekend for my first taste of Scottish football.

I couldn't have picked a better game, the 5th round of the Scottish Cup, after the top sides were drawn together.

Celtic and Rangers have been the dominant force in Scottish football for some time and not even Hearts this season, have come close to touching them this season, Celtic beating them 4-0 after a 1-0 victory over Rangers at Tynecastle.






Hearts have been the best of the rest so far this season and sit in 3rd in the SPL, some distance adrift of leaders Celtic.



Credit; here






67 Scottish Cups, 40 Scottish League Cups and 95 league championships between them and those figures are sure to change once again come May.

The derbies are as heated as ever and I've watched the last two on TV, Celtic emerging victorious 2-0 at Ibrox, Georgios Samaras scoring both goals in a 2-0 win, and Rangers coming from behind to win 3-1 at Parkhead thanks to two goals from Kenny Miller.

He might have left now but Rangers have plenty of fire-power with Nikica Jelavic coming to the front, and the Gers signing El-Hadji Diouf, David Healy and Arsenal youngster Kyle Bartley late in the transfer window.

Since the last Old Firm meeting, Rangers have won 4 of their 5 games, whilst Celtic have been on fire, winning 6 of 7 and scoring 18 goals, conceding only two.

It will be interesting to see how Rangers cope without striker Miller, who left for Bursaspor, in their first Glasgow derby without him, the hit-man having scored five times in his last four games against the Hoops.






Kenny Miller played for both sides before moving to Bursaspor, where he scored on his debut.



Credit; here

He missed one game against Celtic last season, a 1-1 draw at Parkhead, but someone will have to step up to replace him.

That man could well be Jelavic, who looks to be a good player and scored against Hibs last week, his third goal for the club in only eight appearances since his move from Rapid Vienna.

The good thing about Rangers is that they have experience, with David Healy, El Hadji Diouf and Vladimir Weiss all with Premier League experience and pushing for starts.

The main problem might be trying to keep Celtic out and I could see plenty of goals with the Hoops having signed Chris Commons from Derby to add to their attacking nature.





Chris Commons scored on debut after signing from Derby County and is a real threat to Rangers.

Credit; here


Gary Hooper scores a lot of goals and seems to be born for the SPL, having scored 11 since his summer move from Scunthorpe.

Add Anthony Stokes, Paddy McCourt and Joe Ledley to that line up and it is something to be wary of, but the current Celtic team doesn't have that much experience of Old Firm derbies and that might play a part when they again cross the river to play at Ibrox.

Manager Neil Lennon has praised his current strike partnership after their weekend win over Aberdeen but this weekend will be the real test to see whether they can cut it against the country's best.

It should be a good spectacle before heading out to watch Chelsea v Liverpool on TV.

Who will win the Glasgow derby? Please discuss below.

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