From: scottj@spider.co.uk (Scott Jackson)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Rangers Match Report
Keywords: Jingle bells, jingle bells.....
Date: 5 Jan 93 09:33:36 GMT
Organization: Spider Systems Limited, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND.

Played on Saturday January 2nd

Rangers 1  Celtic 0

Steven 33

Att. 46,039

Happy New Year to all Bears who are rejoicing in yet another victory over our
poor neighbours. This won't go down as a memorable Rangers performance but
the record books only show the result and if you can't score then you're not
going to win.

With SAlly out with the calf injury he picked up at Dens a week previous,
Trevor Steven was played up front with Hateley again highlighting the lack of
cover up front. The Rangers cause was helped with Adonis having to go off
with a calf injury early doors but still Rangers started as if they had
hangover's as Celtic had a couple of chances before Rangers took control, one
a peach after a miscued Chucker Broon header went straight to Payton who
needless to say lost his one on one battle with Goram. The last twenty
minutes of the first half saw Rangers play some brilliant stuff and it was
only a matter of time before the goal came. A free kick was touched to Fergie
who lofted a ball into the box where the big man headed across onto the
penalty spot and there was Steven unmarked to header past Bonner. Celebration
time and not a peep from the other end. Rangers almost got a second right
after the restart after Durrant had rounded Bonner but he delayed his pass
and Steven's shot was blocked. Thereafter, up until half-time it was one
touch stuff by Rangers.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Rangers start up where they left
off with the ball being knocked about but then it got a bit scrappy and
Celtic ended up on top for the rest of the game with Rangers more or less
pinned back into their own half content to counter attack, after all, it
wasn't the blues who were a goal down. However, great goalkeeping and
defending meant that Celtic could still be playing today and still not have
scored. Creaney and Joan Collins went close, the latter having his effort
kicked off the line but it was to the Rangers day and the Ne'erday game has
been won by the light blues for the last five years.

Best for Rangers was probably Fergie in the outfield and obviously Goram but
it was probably the worst Rangers performance of the season, yet we still
beat them. At the other end, Bonner had his usual incompetent display of
handling cross balls but at least he didn't let corners go in directly this
time. Without Mowbray, Hateley had complete control of the air but there was
no-one to pick up the knock downs. Had McCoist been playing....

Rangers:
Goram, McPherson, Robertson, Gough, Brown, Gordon, McCall, Ferguson, Steven,
Hateley, Durrant (Mikhailichenko)

Premier League (top + Celtic)
--------------
              P  Pts
Rangers       23 40
Aiberdeen     24 35
Celtic        25 30
Hertz         25 28
Dundee Utd.   24 26

After the game the Celtic fans stayed and applauded their team of losers and
it now appears that they have learned to accept defeat readily after three in
a row which has placed them *ten* points behind having played two games more.
The exuberant Brady threw in the towel regarding the title and as usual
looked close to tears. Must have been a happy festive season in his house!

-- 
 Scott Jackson              e-mail scottj@spider.co.uk
 Spider Systems
 Edinburry                  "...I only score great goals. Some of them less
 Sco'lind                    great than others admittedly." - A McCoist