12 years ago, Celtic faced Rangers at Celtic Park knowing that a win was needed to keep the quest for a third successive league title on track. Paul Hartley started the game in centre midfield with Barry Robson and the Celtic fan growing up left a sore one on Lee McCulloch as Celtic battled from the first minute to the last.
The Cove Rangers manager, who has just had promotion to League 1 confirmed, reflected on the famous win with the Scottish Sun. A win that would prove to be vital to Celtic winning the league that season.
“It was such a special night and the drama of that game was never matched in my career.
“We had to win. A draw was no use. But when Scotty missed the penalty you start to fear it’s just not your night.
“We scored a lot of late goals under Gordon and I’ll never forget Jan’s goal that night. It was like slow-motion.
“Gary Caldwell chipped the ball to the back post and Scotty headed it across. The noise when it hit the net was incredible.”
On This Day: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's Glory Goal Sinks Rangers | The Celtic Star https://t.co/R8wdlZzqyS
— The Celtic Star Editor (@CelticStarMag) April 16, 2020
Rangers went into the game 4 points clear with two games in hand over Celtic, they were 1-8 to win the league before the game kicked-off but Hartley believes that the win was the catalyst for Celtic pushing on and winning the title.
“As I said, we had to deliver. To do it so late made it all the more dramatic and it really set us up for the run-in.
“We had another game against Rangers at Celtic Park just 11 days later and we won that 3-2.
“But there is no doubt that first win was the catalyst for us going on to win the title.”
Hartley provided Celtic with a tough core against Smith’s Rangers, who were dogged and rough. Hartley and Robson gave as good as the got and bullied the Rangers midfield all night.
“Nobody spoke about stuff like that before the game.
“We knew the Rangers midfield would be up for a battle, so we had to approach it the same way.
“After the game people said Robbo’s challenge set the tone and it probably did. But in any derby you need to be physical and earn the right to play.”
Support Celtic Youth Development
Help raise money for Celtic Youth Development by joining the £1 weekly lottery and you could win up to £25,000 – just click the photograph below to join. Lots of our readers have already done so and they’re now doing their bit to help fund Celtic Youth Development that can deliver the stars of tomorrow and beyond. And you might even win a few bob too! And a special thank you to all The Celtic Star readers who have already signed up and are now supporting youth development to give us the Celtic Stars of the future…
