Rangers Win The League!

[bluebear]

The forces of good, the jedi against the dark side, the queens 11, the footballing side won the league today in just as exciting a way as the relegation issue was decided last week in theepl. unfortunately tv here decided to mostly gnore it with coverage only on Zoccer. channel 38 which showed one of the two important matches.

"For the second time in three years, the quest for the SPL title went to the last day of the season.

Celtic had been strong favourites to retain the title they won comfortably last season, holding a two-point advantage over Rangers ahead of the final round of matches.

Both clubs were away from home in their final games, Celtic with the apparently easier task of beating Motherwell, with Rangers needing to both overcome Hibs and hope that Celtic fail to win.

Chris Sutton's early goal had Celtic in pole position, and even Nacho Novo's goal for Rangers at Easter Road left them relying on a late Motherwell surge to wrest the title from their rivals.

And a dramatic surge it was - as Scott McDonald's two goals in the last two minutes at Fir Park to give Motherwell an unlikely 2-1 win and handed Rangers the championship.

In a season in which the phrase "twists and turns" has become increasingly and annoyingly prevalent, few raised an eyebrow in surprise after that came to pass.

Most people with any connection to the Scottish game assumed the title race was over when Celtic went to Ibrox at the end of April and increased their lead at the top of the league to five points with a 2-1 victory.

With only four games remaining, only the most cautious of analysts - and Martin O'Neill - were not prepared to crown Celtic champions-elect.

But lo and behold, the following weekend, Celtic were thumped 3-1 at home to Hibs, as Rangers went to Pittodrie and beat Aberdeen by the same scoreline.

Alan Thompson's goal gave Celtic an early-season win over Rangers

Rangers followed that with wins over Hearts and Motherwell, while Celtic beat Aberdeen and Hearts.

That set up an absorbing finale to the season, which seemed a distant prospect in the opening weeks of the campaign, as an opening-day draw with Aberdeen and an early defeat by Celtic were followed by another draw away to Hearts to leave Rangers well off the pace.

But there was an early sign of Celtic's increased fallibility as they were held at Easter Road by Hibs and then, much more surprisingly, fell to defeat at home to Aberdeen.

Then, in late November, Rangers redressed the balance by winning the second Old Firm league game of the season and they leapfrogged their old rivals the following week as Dundee held Celtic.

There were early indications that neither side was about to walk away with the title as Rangers suffered damaging draws away to Inverness and Dundee United. allowing Celtic to reclaim their slight advantage.

That was again reversed as Rangers won at Celtic Park for the first time in five years, but five points dropped at home to Caley Thistle and Dundee United undid that good work - though another Celtic home defeat, this time by Hearts, had some people suggesting that neither team wanted to win the league."

"Rangers in dramatic title triumph

Hibernian 0-1 Rangers

Rangers pipped rivals Celtic to the Scottish Premier League title after a dramatic final day of the season.

The Gers went into the final game two points behind their Glasgow rivals but a sensational late fightback by Motherwell gave them the title.

Celtic led through Chris Sutton but two goals in the closing minutes from Scott McDonald earned Motherwell a 2-1 win.

Nacho Novo's goal gave Rangers a 1-0 win over Hibernian, who qualified for Europe, to see them leapfrog Celtic.

Celtic were firm favourites to retain the title at the start of the day, leading Rangers by two points.

It all looked to be going to plan when Chris Sutton put them in front in the 29th minute.

Motherwell 2-1 Celtic

Martin O'Neill's side had chances to put the game beyond doubt, but were denied by Motherwell's outstanding keeper Gordon Marshall.

And Terry Butcher's side staged an astonishing late rally, with McDonald equalising in the 88th-minute to put Rangers back in the driving seat.

Australian-born striker McDonald, who is a Celtic supporter, then devastated the travelling Bhoys fans by grabbing a second in injury time.

Rangers, who had to wait until the 59th minute to break down Hibernian's stiff defence courtesy of Novo's first league goal since 2 March, held on for victory and had to wait for the full-time whistle to go at Fir Park to confirm the title.

News of Celtic's defeat sparked scenes of jubilation at Easter Road as Rangers rejoiced in recapturing the title in the most dramatic of circumstances.

I think overall we showed we were the best team - Fernando Ricksen

Rangers boss Alex McLeish said he never gave up hope that they could overtake their rivals.

"We always dreamed that something like this might happen," he said.

"It has been a phenomenal finish to the season in general and for us to clinch the title the way we did - we certainly know how to put ourselves through it.

"When it sinks in I think I'll probably reflect and say it is the highlight of my career."

Rangers skipper Fernando Ricksen said his team deserved to win the title.

He said: "We were never worried about Celtic because we knew what we had to do. We knew Motherwell could win - it is hard to go there and I'm glad they did so well against Celtic."

"It's very painful and disappointing for the players" Martin O'Neill. Celtic boss O'Neill was devastated in defeat and put their loss down to his side's inability to kill off Motherwell.

He said: "We had enough chances to win the game by six or seven goals and we always felt it would be difficult without the second goal.

"We had unbelievable chances to get the second goal and spurned them all."

Results:

FT Hibernian 0-1 Rangers

FT Motherwell 2-1 Celtic

1554: FULL-TIME Motherwell 2-1 Celtic

It is all over at Fir Park and the most unlikely of finishes, with Motherwell stealing the three points and denying Celtic the title in the most dramatic of fashions.

1554: FULL-TIME Aberdeen 2-0 Hearts

Aberdeen secure victory in their final game of the season, but they are unable to get the goals to overtake Hibs for the final European spot.

1554: FULL-TIME Hibernian 0-1 Rangers

The full-time whistle goes at Easter Road and Rangers must now wait and see if Motherwell can hold on.

1553: GOAL Motherwell 2-1 Celtic

The incredible turnaround looks complete as Scott McDonald grabs a second in stoppage time.

1547: GOAL Motherwell 1-1 Celtic

Unbelievable scenes at Fir Park as Scott McDonald hooks the ball into the top corner to level matters. Celtic look like throwing away the title in the dying minutes of the season.

1535: Motherwell are pushing for a late equaliser and James Paterson's corner causes havoc, with Neil Lennon forced to make a last-ditch clearance.

1522: Celtic are throwing everything at Motherwell but Gordon Marshall is inspired form in keeping them out.

1516: GOAL Hibernian 0-1 Rangers

Rangers give themselves some hope when a shot from Nacho Novo from the right is deflected off Gary Caldwell and into the net.

1512: Craig Bellamy wastes a good chance to give Celtic a two-goal cushion when he is clean through on goal, but his shot is kept out by the palm of Gordon Marshall.

1508: GOAL Aberdeen 2-0 Hearts

Aberdeen double their lead through a Derek Adams header. The Dons are closing on Hibs, but they still face an uphill battle to secure the final Uefa Cup spot.

1503: Celtic receive an early let-off as Stephen Craigan's point-blank header is blocked on the line by Didier Agathe's face and the Bhoys eventually clear the ball.

1502: The second half gets under way in the three games.

1452: The half-time whistle goes at Pittodrie, with Aberdeen leading through Richie Byrne's goal just before the break.

1448: GOAL Aberdeen 1-0 Hearts

Aberdeen take the lead on the stroke of half-time through Richie Byrne, who headed in a Scott Severin free-kick for his first league goal for the club.

1447: It is half-time at Easter Road and Rangers, who need to win to have any chance of pipping their rivals to the title, are being held 0-0.

1446: The half-time whistle goes at Fir Park. Motherwell have made life difficult for Celtic, but Chris Sutton's goal would be enough to crown them Scottish champions once again.

1430: GOAL Motherwell 0-1 Celtic

Chris Sutton puts Celtic in front when he slides in to finish off a rebound after Motherwell keeper Gordon Marshall could only parry Alan Thompson's centre.

1416: Celtic are close to taking the lead when Craig Bellamy hits the outside of the post after linking up well with John Hartson and Chris Sutton.

1411: Nacho Novo strikes a shot against the post for Rangers when Hibs keeper Simon Brown misjudges the bounce of a long ball from Alex Rae.

1401 BST: All three games get under way."

[johnh101]

Shame about the Dons though, almost relegated last season, almost Europe this season.........................I see another Fergie coming off the production line ! !