An equalizer from Lee McCulloch earned Rangers a 1-1 draw at Celtic
on Sunday to keep his side seven points ahead of its traditional
rival at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
After Celtic has wasted a series of chances at Parkhead,
Scott McDonald headed home a cross from Aidan McGeady in the 79th
minute to give the home side a deserved lead.
But McCulloch headed home a corner just two minutes later and
the result means defending champion Rangers remains a strong
favorite to hold onto the title even though Celtic has a game in
hand.
Rangers has 44 points from 19 games and Celtic 37 from 18.
But Celtic manager Tony Mowbray pointed out that Rangers made up a
seven-point gap on his club from halfway through last season, and
his team still had plenty of time, plus the bonus of a game in
hand, to make up the difference.
"Undoubtedly, it's less of a task than they had last year,"
he said.
Rangers manager Walter Smith admitted his side was lucky not
to lose.
"Celtic played very well. It was a tough afternoon for a lot
of our boys," he said. "I felt in the second half we did a little
bit better. We are delighted to have got a point from a game we
should not have. We were not with the pace of the game at all."
Rangers lost Nacho Novo with a leg injury with the game only
13 minutes old and Maurice Edu replaced him.
Marc-Antoine Fortune had the ball in the Rangers net in the
20th minute when he climbed above goalkeeper Allan McGregor to head
home. But referee Steve Conroy harshly ruled he had fouled the
goalkeeper and it didn't count.
Celtic midfielder Barry Robson hit the bar with a glancing
header and McGeady missed two more chances, pulling a left footed
shot across the face of the goal and than shooting over the bar.
After the two goals, McGregor rescued Rangers by pushing a
powerful shot from Georgios Samaras over the bar.
Hibernian and Hearts drew 1-1 in Sunday's other game, an
Edinburgh derby which was marred by two red cards and crowd
trouble.
Gordon Smith gave Hearts the lead in the final minute of the
first half and a Hearts fan was ejected after a flare was thrown as
the players left the field.
Anthony Stokes equalized for the home side in the 54th minute
and, three minutes later, Hearts' Ruben Palazuelos and Darren
McCormack of Hibs were sent off for head-butting each other.
Hibernian remained third with 33 points and Hearts stayed
fifth with 24.
