2000 The Demolition Derby

CELTIC 6 RANGERS 2

TIME will never diminish the magnitude of this victory. If ever a game illustrated that a sea change in Scottish football was taking place, then Celtic’s 6-2 victory in the first Old Firm game of season 2000/01.

It was also Martin O’Neill’s first test as Celtic manager against our city rivals and to say he passed it with flying colours is something of an understatement.

Rangers came to Celtic Park as the defending champions, having won the league title under Dick Advocaat for the previous two years. Martin O’Neill had arrived in Glasgow in June 2000 intent on restoring the fortunes of a club that had apparently lost its way, the nadir of which was the Scottish Cup defeat at home to Inverness Caley Thistle.

The season started promisingly enough for the Irishman and his squad, bolstered by the addition of Belgian defender Joos Valgaeren and striker Chris Sutton.

And after four games, Celtic boasted a 100% record, a point behind leaders Hibs, who had played a game more, and level on points with Rangers.

The stage was set for the first Old Firm confrontation of the season on August 27, 2000.

Every Old Firm game is vital, though none more so than the first clash, which can set the scene for the remainer of the season.

It would also provide a stern test for Martin O’Neill’s men and a barometer of how far they had progressed and what was still needed to be done against the team O’Neill had labelled “the benchmark.”

The Celtic side which lined up on that day in front of 59,476 fans makes interesting reading, especially when reflecting on the changes made to the squad in the weeks and months to come.
Celtic’s line-up was: Gould; McNamara, Mahe, Stubbs, Valgaeren; Petta, Lambert, Petrov, Moravcik, Sutton, Larsson.

The Celtic substitutes used were: Mjallby, who replaced the injured Lambert on 36 minutes, Boyd, who came on for Moravick in the second-half, and Burchill, a late sub for Larsson.

It took Celtic just 51 seconds to show their intent and it was a dream Old Firm debut for Chris Sutton. A corner from Moravcik was knocked down by Stubbs and as Larsson’s attempted shot appeared to be trickling by the post, Sutton was on hand to slide it into the net to record the fastest ever Old Firm goal in the hsitory of the Premier League. 1-0 Celtic!

If Celtic fans found that a breathtaking start to the game, then by the time the clock reached 13 minutes, they must have wondered if it was all just a dream.

By then, both Stilian Petrov and Paul Lambert had scored to give Celtic a 3-0 lead. Firstly, Petrov got on the end of another dangerous Moravcik corner to head home, and then Lambert, from the edge of the box, crashed in an unstoppable shot past Stefan Klos in the Rangers goal, after Moravcik had cut the ball back from the goalline.

It was a start to the game better than anyone, including Martin O’Neill could have wished for and, as to paraphrase the pop song, things were only going to get better.

Not even a Claudia Reyna goal for Rangers three minutes before half-time to subdue the Celtic fans, who kept up a constant stream of singing throughout the 15-minute break.

Rangers, meanwhile, trooped off the field in a state of shock, the players joining Fernando Ricksen in the dressing room. The Dutchman endured a torrid 25 minutes against a rejuvinated Bobby Petta, later to be accused of “showboating” by Rangers’ disgruntled management. Ricksen looked almost relieved when the fourth official held up his number and he trotted off the park to be replaced by Tugay.

The second half was another joyous forty-five minutes in Paradise, which began with one of the best goals ever seen at Celtic Park scored by Henrik Larsson…Who else?
The ball was cleared upfield by Jonathan Gould, and Sutton did well to control the ball with his chest and lay it inside for Larsson.

The super Swede drove forward, nutmegged Bert Konterman and then, from the edge of the box, chipped the ball over Stefan Klos and into the net. 4-1 Celtic!

Larsson wasn’t finished there and added his second, and Celtic’s fifth, with a header from a Petta free-kick.

In between Larsson’s two goals, Billy Dodds scored a penalty for Rangers after Mahe was adjudged to have bundled over Rod Wallace in the box, but, in truth, the goal was all but forgotten.

Rangers were playing like a team who knew they were beaten while Celtic bestrode the pitch like a side who knew they were better. Barry Ferguson eventually decided he, too, had had enough and was sent off in the closing minutes of the game.

And Chris Sutton ended the game the way he began it, with another goal. The big Englishman slid in to steer a Mahe cross into the net, to make the final score 6-2 to Celtic.

It was a magnificent day for Celtic and for Martin O’Neill. They moved into second place in the league, a point behind Hibs who had played a game more, and perhaps more importantly, three points clear of Rangers.

The significance of the result cannot be underestimated, and Rangers appeared to implode as the season progressed while Celtic just went from strength to strength.

It was a performance worthy of Champions, and Martin O’Neill’s side were to prove worthy Champions come the end of the season.