12. THE DEMOLITION DERBY
CELTIC 6 – 2 RANGERS
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE, 27 AUGUST 2000
Martin O’Neill had described Rangers as the benchmark. He had spoken to each player in the dressing room before the match to make sure they each believed that they could overcome Rangers that day and that season.
In context this match is even more special given the level of cheating that we now know was happening behind the scenes at Ibrox at this time. There is no denying the quality of player on display at Celtic Park that day. Chris Sutton, a big money Celtic signing from Chelsea, put Celtic ahead and we raced into a 3-0 lead, with Henrik missing a great chance to make it 4. Rangers pulled one back on the stroke of half time though but things were only just getting started.
Henrik’s chip goal – one of the finest ever to be scored by a Celtic player was followed by a powerful headed goal. Rangers got another consolation before Chris Sutton finished the way he started by tapping in another goal in the final seconds. This was a demolition of an extravagantly assembled Rangers side.
