Sunday, October 21, 2007
| October 20, 200714:30 (UTC) | |||
| Rangers | 3–0 | Celtic | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, ScotlandAttendance: 50,428Referee: Mike McCurry |
| Novo 28’Ferguson 57’Cousin 75’Beasley 75’Novo 79′ (pen)Novo 80’Naismith 80’Hutton 89’McGregor 89′ | 5′ McDonald 25′ Donati 32′ Brown 46′ McManus 46′ Kennedy 54′ Kennedy 59′ Nakamura 59′ McGeady 61′ McGeady 71′ Jarosik 89′ Naylor 89′ Boruc 90′ O’Dea |
The first Old Firm Derby of the 2007-08 Scottish Premier League ended in a 3-0 victory for Rangers over Celtic.
The result brings the two clubs level on points at the top of the table, although Rangers are ranked second on goal difference.
The first chance of the match fell to Celtic when Scott McDonald, who played as a lone striker, tried an overhead kick which went wide. However Rangers took the lead when Nacho Novo headed a goal just inside the half hour mark. Barry Ferguson scored Rangers’ second goal soon after half time, while Novo scored a penalty to add their third with ten minutes remaining.
Rangers manager Walter Smith had claimed last season’s derby victories over Celtic meant nothing, because Celtic were already Scottish champions in theory. This result could determine if Rangers win the championship, but Smith said that there was a “long way to go” before the title could be decided. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said that his side had failed to take the chances they made.