Maurice Edu's injury-time winner gave Rangers a 1-0 victory over
10-man Celtic in the big Old Firm game at Ibrox in the SPL on
Sunday.
The American forced the ball home from close range with
virtually the last kick of the match to give Walter Smith's side a
potentially decisive 10-point lead in the Scottish Premier League
title race.
Edu was on hand after Artur Boruc spilled a Madjid Bougherra
shot and Kris Boyd failed to convert the rebound.
It was a dramatic end to a disappointing afternoon in front
of a passionate Ibrox crowd.
Celtic though will surely feel aggrieved about the
sending-off of Scott Brown midway through the second half.
He was given a straight red by referee Dougie McDonald after
burying his head into the chest of Kyle Lafferty following a 50-50
challenge.
Meanwhile, Bougherra was booked inside the opening 10 minutes
and stayed on the pitch despite a string of fouls afterwards.
That Brown dismissal really ended any hope of a Celtic
victory which might have breathed new life into the title race.
Tony Mowbray's side started the game well with Robbie Keane -
passed fit after a knee injury - twice testing Allan McGregor in
the early going.
But Rangers also had their moments and Boruc had to save at
the second attempt from Kenny Miller after the Rangers striker was
put through by Boyd.
Edu came on as a substitute midway through the opening period
for the injured Lee McCulloch, and with his first touch he found
the net with a left-foot volley - only to see the strike disallowed
for offside.
If anything, the second half was even poorer than the opening
45 minutes, with neither team producing any quality in the final
third.
With Keane ineffective and the anonymous Aiden McGeady
substituted on the hour, Celtic failed to go for the win they
needed with any conviction.
And with a goalless draw looking certain, they paid a heavy
price as Edu forced home that last-gasp winner.
