Kenny Dalglish's repeatedly stated aim since reluctantly picking up the reigns at Parkhead after the dismissal of John Barnes 49 days ago is the restoration of hooped pride. Dalglish has learned in that short period that at Celtic 2000, the fall comes before the pride. Two falls, in fact, both against Rangers this month. This has led to the inevitable submission. Fifteen points ahead, Rangers will win their 10th Scottish title in 11 seasons. It can be clinched at Dundee United in just over a fortnight.
Yesterday lunchtime at Ibrox merely offered confirmation of what everybody knew: Rangers are a much better side than Celtic. Rangers won 1-0 at Celtic Park three weeks ago. Here they won by four goals, but it could have been six or seven. Discouraged as early as the fourth minute by the first of Jorg Albertz's two goals, Celtic left the field with no pride whatsoever.
Significantly, the Celtic players had let that become clear well before the end. Their shoulders drooped and their vast support must have felt like doing what coach Tommy Burns did midway through the second half: watching Mark Viduka fail to make any effort to challenge Claudio Reyna, Burns raced from the dugout and raged at the Australian Croat. Viduka shrugged.
Presumably that kind of diffident reaction was what Dalglish was referring to when he said afterwards: "A few home truths will have to be told. The Celtic support is right to be disappointed. We should feel like we have let a lot of people down."
Dalglish will let it be known shortly what he has decided to do with regard to the manager's position but, whatever his formal title, it appears he will supervise a mass exit of personnel this summer. Season's end cannot come soon enough.
Then Celtic can give their full attention to the defensive insecurity which undermines this team. A goalkeeper and four obdurate defenders are required. That weakness, more than anything else, was the difference between the two sides yesterday. Lorenzo Amoruso may not be the greatest defender to ever walk the earth, but at least he has a presence, physical and emotional. Amoruso also makes decisions.
By comparison, Celtic's backline was a model of hesitation. At crucial times Tom Boyd, Johan Mjallby and Olivier Tebily all failed to act decisively. Little Rod Wallace was able to knock them off the ball. It was shirking.
It cost Celtic dear. When Giovanni van Bronckhorst swung in his fourth-minute corner to the far post, the sight of Amoruso jumping to head the ball six yards out with not one green player near him was close to unbelievable. The trouble for Celtic was that it was all too believable. Amoruso nodded the ball across the box and Albertz did the rest.
As Dick Advocaat acknowledged, Celtic recovered a degree of composure after that, allowing Paul Lambert and Jackie McNamara to assert themselves in midfield. There was some intricate passing, Viduka and Lubo Moravcik getting glimpses of goal, yet the fact is that Stefan Klos in the Rangers net did not make a worthwhile save until the 77th minute. Celtic were a beaten side five minutes before the break, Van Bronckhorst seizing on substitute Tebily's misplaced pass in the centre circle. In a second, Andrei Kanchelskis was free and bearing down on Jonathan Gould. Twonil.
With Barry Ferguson the dominant midfield influence after half-time, Rangers were imperious. Billy Dodds had an apparently good goal over-ruled and Gould then made a double block from Van Bronckhorst and Dodds.
Normal service resumed when Neil McCann, on for Dodds, skipped around Gould and crossed for Albertz to volley into an empty net. Again Celtic's defence was shredded. That was the 84th minute and three minutes later Van Bronckhorst guided in a fourth from the edge of the area. It gave the scoreline the emphasis Rangers' superiority warranted.
"If I had a hat, I would take it off to this team," said Advocaat afterwards. "I hope we get some credit now."
The Rangers manager deserves credit. He is an imposing character. Who will be opposing him in the Celtic dugout next season is still in doubt, though. When asked about his lack of public desire to take the job, Dalglish responded: "I've never ruled myself out." Celtic are hanging.
RANGERS: Klos, Amoruso, Numan, Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst, Wallace, Albertz (Tugay 85), Reyna, Wilson, Dodds (McCann 64). Subs Not Used: Charbonnier, Nicholson, Penttila. Booked: Numan, Ferguson. Goals: Albertz 4, Kanchelskis 41, Albertz 84, Van Bronckhorst 87.
CELTIC: Gould, Riseth, Mahe (Tebily 7), Boyd, Mjallby, McNamara, Lambert (Burchill 71), Petrov, Viduka, Moravcik, Johnson. Subs Not Used: Kerr, Berkovic, Healy. Booked: McNamara, Viduka, Petrov.
Referee: W Young (Scotland).
