pete

CELTIC have taken all three points in the first Old Firm Reserve Game of the season thanks to an impressive second-half display at New Broomfield. Ross Harvey put Rangers ahead on the stroke of half-time with a fine header but a double from Paul McGowan and a further strike from Ben Hutchinson after the break sealed a 3-1 win for Willie McStay's team who maintain their 100 per cent record in the SPL. John Fleck in action against CelticTommy Wilson was able to field a strong starting eleven for this afternoon's fixture with Graeme Smith in goal and a midfield four of Chris Burke, Andrew Shinnie, Mo Edu and Aaron. The coach also selected the same back line that kept a clean sheet against Aberdeen last week with Jordan McMillan and Ross Harvey in the centre and Andrew Little and William McLachlan at right and left back respectively. Rory Loy and John Fleck, meanwhile, were given the nod in attack. Celtic suffered an early blow when midfielder Michael McClinchey had to be replaced by Koki Mizuno after only four minutes due to injury and the home side had to make a second substitution on 27 minutes when Doumbe also pulled up. The first moment of real class, however, came on six minutes from Aaron who was impressive throughout the opening period. Chris Burke was brought down 30 yards from Scott Fox's goal and the Spaniard curled a tremendous free-kick which smashed off the underside of the bar but bounced inches in front of the goal line with the keeper flapping at thin air. It was a brilliant effort from the on loan star who was a proving to be a constant thorn on the left in the early stages as was Burke on the opposite flank. Ross Harvey scores Celtic's best chance came on 19 minutes when the lively McGowan sprinted past the Gers defence and his chip over Graeme Smith clipped the cross bar before being cleared. With the clock ticking down it looked as if neither team would break the deadlock before the interval but Harvey had other ideas. The big defender sprinted forward for a corner with only minutes remaining and when Burke swung in a dangerous cross the centre-half rose above the Celtic defence and keeper to power a header into the net. Rangers made a pre-planned substitution at the break with Charlie Adam going on for Edu who looked steady and composed in his first Old Firm outing. Hutchinson was the danger man for Celtic when the sides last met at the end of last season and the former Middlesbrough man tried his luck from distance at the start of the second period with a powerful shot which Smith did well to hold. At the other end Adam dispossessed a Celtic midfielder and when the ball arrived at the feet of Fleck his raking effort from 30 yards was well over Fox's goal. Only seven minutes later and Celtic had a great chance to level the scoreline. Mo EduAfter some slack play from Rangers, Hutchinson slipped a neat ball to his strike partner Paul McGowan. The no. 10 had time and space to pick his spot but Graeme Smith darted from his line and dived low to his right to make a superb stop. This should have been a warning for the Gers players but poor marking was to prove costly again on 66 minutes when Celtic equalised. Mizuno delivered a teasing cross from the right and McGowan made no mistake this time with an easy header from six yards. Celtic were now in the ascedency and got their noses in front for the first time in the match with 13 minutes remaining. Kevin Cawley played the ball through to McGowan who slotted the ball coolly past Smith in the Gers' goal. With ten minutes remaining Charlie Adam was inches away from giving his side a point with free-kick from 20 yards but it was Hutchinson at the other end that was to secure a home win for Celtic in the final stages of the game. The powerful hitman latched on to a long ball with Rangers trying to play an offiside trap. He looked up once before lofting it over Smith from a tight angle to end a frustrating day for the Gers. CELTIC: Fox; Doumbe (Towell 27), O'Dea, Lafferty, Conroy; Cawley, Millar, McGlinchey (Mizuno 4), McCourt; McGowan, Hutchinson Subs: Gaughan, Marshall, Tidser, Monti, Graham RANGERS: Smith; Little, Harvey, McMillan, McLachlan; Aaron (Stirling 75) , Edu (Adam 45), Shinnie, Burke; Fleck, Loy Subs: Robinson, Perry, Bagci Never nice to read i know but i still think it should be mentioned on here. Edu,Aaron,Fleck, Burke. i think that answers the question for me about playing a weakened team for a cup game.

I would have done the same.

We should hae signed Eto it is easier to remember. I did mean Edu of course.

Totally agree we should field a strong team with maybe a few changes. I would be tempted to rest Mendes as i would hate to see him getting injured before our visit to ER. I am sure Davis and Thomson could handle the job in midfield and may even be the better choice in a midfield brawl, rather than the silky skills of Mendes. I would certainly be looking to bring on Aaron and Eto at some stage.

From what i have been reading it died a death?

No it is an hour behind,

I bring this up for discussion because it was also talked about on a Dutch football programme tonight. Over the last season we have blamed namely Cousin for at times looking disinterested. Personally i don't believe a player walks on to the park thinking i can't be bothered today. In my opinion different styles optically look like one player is trying harder than another. The examples given on the Dutch programme was Frank Rijkaard and Edgar Davids. Rijkaard played with his head held high and strolled through games, while Davids had his head down and was kicking at every ankle he saw. Did the stallion style of Davids bring any more to the team than the pedigree style of Rijkaard? I doubt it. Yet at times when things were going wrong for both players Rijkaard looked disinterested and Davids was given the benifit of the doubt that it was an off day. Lets put the theory into Rangers perspective. Cousin also had the style of gliding through games with his head held high. If he had an off day or a day where he could not get free of the shackles of a defender then it was said he was disinterested. If Nacho Novo who runs about like a headless chicken at times has a bad day then people only have sympathy for the poor wee soul. Ran about like an idiot but things never worked out for him. Defenders do get on top of strikers sometimes it does not mean the striker is not trying his best.

Agree with that.

As you probably know i am not a great Boyd fan. I will say though as long as he is influencing our games in a winning form be it scoring or not, he should keep his place in the team. Has Velicka dropped off the planet?

Flight controllers at Glasgow Airport have sent a letter of complaint to Rangers saying if he keeps jumping so high they will need to put a flashing light on his head.

My interest stopped after 2-0. turned the radio off after that.

I totally agree with Walters decision, i just hope that Mcgregor realises that he has to fight for his place and comes back even better than last season. As i said I feel safer with McGregor when a high ball comes in than with Alexander. There is a Dutch saying which translated for this situation goes"If you don't come for a cross then you won't drop the ball" Staying stuck on the line as Alexander does, does not always fill me with confidence. I prefer a keeper that punches(or catches) 100 crosses and inevitably drops the odd one.

To be honest i feel McGregor is far better with crosses and penalties, so i hope Alan finds his form again quickly as he is still No.1 for me.

That was my thoughts anyone who sings that song is a bigot. Absurd! That will also mean we can't sing mashed potatoes any more either.

Glad to hear it went well and peacefully. I just wonder if the letter got further than the peddle-bin at the reception desk?

I can't get this link to open. I tried last week and now this week but no address seems to come into my address bar. i can get another stream but it is about 3-4 minutes behind the radio so i listen to the radio and watch the goals a little later. Never saw the goals today so hopefully they will be on U-tube soon.

Sorry Craig i would rather see him playing for Hull City or Stoke.

5-2 for Werder. Werder were 5-0 up with 20 minutes to go. Bayern had most of the play but almost every Werder attack ended in a goal.

Rangers are still trying to move him on. there is a French ruling allowing teams to make one signing outwith the transfer window. Rangers are hoping a French club come in for him.

I hope it works out and everything goes peacefully. The last thing we need is headlines as Rangers supporters rampage at the BBC. To be honest i only know Vanguard bear as a poster that posted a few posts on here, i didn't know there was a website of that name. I thought FF was the militant rangers website.

Damien who is organising this exactly. Is it a recognised supporters group. Although it has been stated that it is a peaceful demo it could be used by more militant supporters to stir up trouble. That could be a recipe for disaster for us in the media.

I think we are only agreeing with each other, but i will say he has never had the players around him that we now have in the midfield. It will be interesting to see how he plays with Mendes.

I was being sarcastic about his injury but i don't think it is just last season he has been crap it is since his return from Blackburn.

"Barry had a great season last season." Walter you are on cloud cuckoo land, do you watch the same games we do. He played brilliant in about 6 games and for the rest he was carrying that injury which allows him to play crap but get high marks for effort.

Sorry but Gazza has only one boss at the moment and that is his craving for a drink. You can ask the Queen to talk to him and it won't make any difference. Until PG wants to get off the drink himself then no one can help him unless they lock him up.