Friday, December 26, 2008

Celtic v Rangers preview

With both clubs stumbling of late, Rangers have crept back into the title race and tomorrows Old Firm clash at Ibrox is critical for Gordon Smith's dreams to hoist the hardware. While the Gers have had a great deal of success recently at home against Celtic, the pressure is on to earn the full three points.

In this match that defines far more that championship races, all Footballers will be pushing their bodies to the limits. On the injury front the Rangers will have Chris Burke, Maurice Edu and Kenny Miller ready although Madjid Bougherra will undergo a late fitness test. The cat and mouse commentary of whether Kris Boyd will be a part of his first match against Celtic since May 2007 has garnered a great deal of attention but it difficult to imagine that Walter Smith would keep his top scorer out for the match. He may have given a clue the Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller will be paired at striker by stating:

"It's always difficult to leave Kris Boyd out of your team because he is a natural goalscorer.

On the opposite end of the pitch Gordon Strachan's Celtic side looks to be fully fit with only Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink absent.