SPL Sunday October 6th

Celtic 3

Rangers 3

0:1 Arteta (6); 1:1 Larsson (44); 2:1 Larsson (55); 2:2 de Boer (56); 2:3 Arvaladze (77); 3:3 Sutton (80)

Att: 59,027

MIB: Stuart Dougal

Celtic: Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, laursen; Sylla (Agathe 58), Petrov Hartson 79), Lambert (Maloney 79), Lennon, Thompson; Larsson, Sutton

The majority of the papers portrayed this game as a pulsating end-to-end thriller full of grit and determination. Which is odd, because most people saw Celtic absolutely hammer Rangers into the ground, but allow them to escape with a point thanks to some suicidal defending, and a goalkeeping performance that embodied our worst nightmares come true.

We had exactly the kind of start that we didn't need. Couldn't get the ball, always chasing, allowing them to control the pace of the game; and then along came the start of Rab's Longest Day.

A long range shot from Arteta somehow slipped under the big 'keeper and into the net - without doubt his worst error in a Celtic shirt to date. But stayed tuned.

Happily we responded well to this. Lennon was told to close down Arteta, and sure enough the goal was his last real involvement. For the remainder of the half we pounded away at the Huns goal and the only surprising thing was that it took so long for us to score. It was no surprise who scored though.

Larsson superbly controlled a cross from the right, turned and crashed an unstoppable shot past Klod. Lift off. They were mighty glad to hear the half time whistle.

The second half was a reprise of the bombardment that ended the first. There was no way they could hold out, and sure enough soon we were in front; Larsson again, this time as powerful a header as you will ever see.

If you had asked anyone in the ground at that point what the outcome of the game was to be it's my guess that even the huns thought they were on for a gubbing. But some incredible defending was on the way that would put paid to that.

For the second time in five minutes Sylla leapt in to try and cut out a ball to the wing, and for the second time he missed. Not clever stuff. McCann swung in a cross, Douglas hesitated, and the unmarked De Boer headed the ball in. We had been pulled back in less than a minute. Most people blamed Douglas, some allowed that Sylla had played his part; the central defence who had allowed De Boer a free run escaped criticism. The fact is that they were all to blame, Sylla more than most. Diving in like that twice thereby putting your already under pressure goalie in another awkward spot was not the right thing to do. He was replaced by Agathe shortly thereafter.

But it didn't finish there. They got a corner which Celtic defended in the style of the Keystone Cops. Somehow the ball was hacked out, but only to Numan. Now Numan was the player who scored a spectacular long range effort against the Hoops last season, so letting him run at us with the ball and a clear view of the goal wouldn't be the best thing to do. Guess what we did? What were we expecting to happen? Rab got down to it, but didn't hold it and the ball was bundled in. Unbelievable. from being ahead and in complete control we were behind with the clock ticking.

Thankfully our defending seemed to be infectious, a few minutes later the Rangers defence stood and watched as Sutton scored from close range. But with that the generosity ended.

At the final whistle they were obviously the happier team. Having had only four shots on goal (yes folks Rab did make a save in this game) they had been gifted a point. For some time now we've all been saying that Rangers can't continue to be this lucky against us. It has to be true some time. Ibrox will do nicely.