Diouf treated like a serial killer, says Smith

GLASGOW: Rangers manager Walter Smith said new signing El Hadji Diouf is ready for the white-hot atmosphere of the Old Firm derby after stating “serial killers get better press” than the Senegal international.

The former African player of the year, signed on loan from Blackburn Rovers on Monday, was named on the bench for Wednesday’s match against Hearts at Ibrox along with fellow new recruits David Healy and Kyle Bartley.

However he got his first taste of Scottish football earlier than expected when he came off the bench to replace the injured Lee McCulloch in the 20th minute of Rangers’ 1-0 win that moved them to five points behind rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Diouf has a colourful reputation after being involved in a number of controversial incidents during his career, notably being fined when he spat at a Celtic fan in 2003 while playing for Liverpool.

But the striker, who has also played for Bolton and Lens, came through his Rangers debut incident free despite coming in for some rough treatment from a Hearts team that saw Marius Zaliukas, Ian Black and Ryan Stevenson all booked for challenges on the Senegalese player.

Afterwards, Smith said he had no qualms about fielding Diouf in the always volatile surroundings of a Glasgow derby when Rangers face Celtic in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup tomorrow.

“He needs time because he has not played for a few weeks now,” Smith said of his loan signing.

“I thought he did that very well. Overall, I was pleased with the way he played considering serial killers get better publicity than he has over the last few days.

“It was never going to be easy for him after all that, so I’m obviously pleased he managed to handle it.

“We were only going to look to play him in in the second half of the game.

“He’s got a bit longer than we thought, so he’ll be ready for Sunday’s game.” 

  

Celtic stretches lead in Scotland

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Celtic beat 10-man Aberdeen 3-0 away on Tuesday to move provisionally eight points clear of Glasgow rival Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Andrew Considine was sent off for Aberdeen in the second minute and although Anthony Stokes missed the resulting penalty, Gary Hooper capitalized by putting Celtic ahead in the 12th.

Mark Wilson and Stokes, making amends, completed the win for the visitors. Rangers, which plays third-place Hearts on Wednesday, has three games in hand over Celtic.

In the other game on Tuesday, St. Johnstone beat bottom club Hamilton 2-0.

  

Hearts consolidates 3rd with win over St Johnstone

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Third-place Hearts closed the gap on the leaders in the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 victory over St. Johnstone and Celtic reached the final of the League Cup with a 4-1 thrashing of Aberdeen on Saturday.

Hearts lost 4-0 at league leader Celtic in midweek but bounced back with a win at Tynecastle, courtesy of Rudi Skacel's third-minute goal.

The Edinburgh club is now two points behind Rangers, which is five behind Celtic but with two games in hand over its Glasgow rival.

Celtic will face either Motherwell or Rangers in the League Cup final after routing Aberdeen at Hampden Park.

All of the team's goals came in the opening 33 minutes, with new signing Kris Commons, Charlie Mulgrew, Thomas Rogne and Anthony Stokes scoring.

  

Celtic thrashes Hearts 4-0 to stay clear in SPL

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Celtic thrashed third-place Hearts 4-0 on Wednesday to stay five points clear of fierce Glasgow rival Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Ireland striker Anthony Stokes scored a goal in each half, adding to strikes by James Forrest and Paddy McCourt, to give Hearts only its second defeat since October.

Rangers cruised to a 2-0 victory over second-bottom Aberdeen, courtesy of goals by defender Madjid Bougherra and striker Nikica Jelavic.

Hearts is now five points behind Rangers, which has two games in hand over Celtic.

  

Hearts stun champions Rangers

GLASGOW: Hearts turned the Scottish Premier League title race into a rare three-horse race on Saturday when they defeated champions Rangers 1-0.

Table-toppers Celtic extended their lead to five points over Rangers later on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen, although their bitter Glasgow rivals still have two games in hand.

Hearts, who are seven points adrift of Celtic, go to Parkhead on Wednesday looking to cause another upset.

Ryan Stevenson was the Hearts star as the midfielder’s late goal clinched the three points, inflicting Rangers’ first away defeat of the season, and giving Hearts a chance of claiming what would be their fifth league title, but first since 1960. 

  

Rangers beats Inverness 1-0 to close gap on Celtic

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Steven Davis scored the winning goal as Rangers beat Inverness 1-0 on Tuesday to move two points behind fierce Glasgow rival Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

The central midfielder drove home a low finish from the edge of the area just before halftime to earn the Scottish champions a narrow win.

Rangers, which has two games in hand over Celtic, wasted further chances through Kyle Lafferty and Nikica Jelavic to extend the margin of victory.

In the other match in Scotland's top division, Hearts rallied to beat Kilmarnock 2-1 thanks to two goals by Stephen Elliott in the final 17 minutes.

The Edinburgh side remained third but is now only seven points behind Celtic with a game in hand.

  

Celtic’s Lennon in more trouble after fresh outburst

GLASGOW: Celtic manager Neil Lennon could find himself in more hot water with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) after yet again berating match officials who he claimed constantly give the big refereeing decisions against his side.

The Hoops boss was left fuming after a number of contentious decisions went against the Scottish Premier League leaders before Anthony Stokes’s stoppage-time penalty salvaged a point in a drama-filled 1-1 draw away to bottom of the table Hamilton on Wednesday.

Lennon was handed a six-match touchline ban by the SFA this week after his appeal for being sent to the stand in a match against Hearts was rejected and he could receive a further ban for comments made following that game.

“I’m angry at some aspects of our play but angry about some of the decisions that have gone against us as well,” Lennon said.

“I just want the officials to do their jobs properly.

“You are talking about big moments in the game again. You are talking about Hamilton’s goal, which shouldn’t have been a goal, and you are talking about a penalty which we should have had.

“It seems to be every week. I don’t want to say anything cause I’m in enough trouble as it is, but it seems to be every other game now that big decisions seem to have gone against us and it’s frustrating,” the 39-year-old former Northern Ireland midfielder said.

  

Kilmarnock beats St. Mirren 2-0 in SPL

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Kilmarnock tightened its grip on fourth place in the Scottish Premier League with a 2-0 victory over St. Mirren on Monday.

Second-half goals from Liam Kelly and Craig Bryson secured a seventh win in 10 games that moves Kilmarnock three points ahead of Inverness with a game in hand. Third-place Hearts are nine points ahead of Kilmarnock.

The match did not come to life until the second half when Kelly tapped in from close range in the 64th minute after being set up by Jamie Hamill.

Bryson, the Kilmarnock captain, sealed the win in the 79th with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Leader Celtic is in action on Tuesday when it goes to Hamilton.

  

Lennon proves critics wrong with Old Firm win

GLASGOW: Neil Lennon insisted that he and his players had answered their critics as Celtic defeated Rangers 2-0 on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to four points.

Doubts remained about Lennon’s ability to handle the big occasions after his side lost 3-1 at Parkhead in the first Old Firm fixture in October and failed to make it past the first hurdle in two European competitions with defeats to Braga and Utrecht.

Despite regaining top spot in midweek following their win over Motherwell the Hoops went into the game as underdogs as they held just a one point lead over Rangers, who have two games in hand.

But after a comfortable victory at the home of their rivals, Lennon warned Celtic now have a strong foothold in the race to take the title back from Rangers, who will need wins in both their games in hand to reclaim top spot.

“It’s always difficult to come here but I thought we took everything Rangers threw at us and came back in spades at them and wore them down. In the end we were maybe capable of getting more goals,” said Lennon.

“I thought we were very good and professional and going forward we were dangerous.

“I think everyone, from what I have read in the last week or so, had written us off and given us no chance so the players have answered a lot of questions.

“I think I have answered a lot of questions considering people point the finger and say we don’t win big games. It is always going to be pointed at you until you win a big game. We’ve certainly done that and we’ve done it with a bit of style as well.

“Hopefully it is a turning point for the players. We’re not getting carried away with things and can’t be complacent but what we’ve done is give us a real good foothold in the title race.”

At Ibrox, Georgios Samaras came in from the cold for only his second start since October to score twice as Celtic gained revenge for their defeat in October.

  

Davis wants Old Firm derby tribute to mark disaster

GLASGOW: Rangers midfielder Steven Davis believes victory over Celtic today would be the perfect way to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster.

The Scottish champions will remember the 66 people who lost their lives at an Old Firm derby in January 1971, following crushes on the terraces, when their bitter rivals visit Ibrox today.

The club have a number of tributes planned on the day, including a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off, and a memorial service will take place at Ibrox tomorrow.

Davis is well aware that the New Year’s derby will be even more emotionally-charged than usual but has no fears about the players’ ability to cope with the occasion.

“I don’t think we need to be shielded. We are totally aware of the situation and the disaster that occurred,” Davis said.

“It will mean a lot to so many people, especially the families who were affected by it. We are definitely aware of that.

“I think the best we can do as players is go out there and perform on the pitch and get the right result.

“Hopefully that will bring a little bit of comfort to the people involved in the disaster.”

Rangers’ midweek game at St Johnstone fell victim to the weather, allowing Celtic to move one point clear at the top with a win over Motherwell, providing them with a psychological boost ahead of today’s clash.

Davis is desperate for a win to allow Rangers to reclaim top spot again but does not necessarily believe victory will have a massive bearing on the title race at this stage.

“We’ve got a couple of games in hand now and we would rather have the points on the board,” he said. “But we will hopefully go into the game with confidence and will try to get another good result.

“It would definitely be a boost for us to win but we won’t look too far ahead.

“There are still so many games to be played and there are going to be so many fixtures in a short space of time for us, with the size of squad that we have.

“You obviously look to win the Old Firm games and take a boost from it but that’s all it would be at this stage of the season.”

  

Ljungberg aims to be a magnificent Seven at Celtic

GLASGOW: Freddie Ljungberg has promised to do justice to Celtic’s iconic number seven shirt after completing his move to the Scottish Premier League club.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ljungberg has joined Celtic until the end of the season after leaving Chicago Fire at the end of his Major League Soccer contract.

The 33-year-old, who could make his debut in today’s Old Firm derby against Rangers, has been handed the number seven shirt previously worn by Celtic legends Henrik Larsson, Kenny Dalglish and Jimmy Johnstone and is keen to live up to their reputations.

“When I was at Arsenal I had Ian Wright’s number and he was a legend there. I’ll try to do the same here with the number seven shirt - to wear it with pride and do my best,” Ljungberg said on Friday.

Ljungberg admitted he was delighted to return to European football following his American adventure.

“In America the league is much better than it gets credit for but Celtic are a massive club and what I missed the most in America was the passion for the sport,” he said.

“If you’re looking for passion then it’s here. There is great support.

“The fans and the passion are very good here and it’s a great team. Celtic is a very big club with great management staff too.”

Hoops boss Neil Lennon will assess Ljungberg’s fitness before deciding whether to play him against Glasgow rivals Rangers.

“It’s a tough question because he hasn’t played much football since October but obviously he’s still in great condition and he’s come through the medical, which is quite stringent here, with no problems at all. He is in contention,” Lennon said.

Celtic are one point clear of second placed Rangers at the top of the table, but Walter Smith’s reigning champions have two games in hand, making today’s game a crucial clash for the Hoops.

  

Ljungberg joins Celtic after passing medical

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Celtic has signed Freddie Ljungberg after the former Sweden midfielder passed a medical examination.

The 33-year-old Ljungberg has been without a club since leaving the Chicago Fire at the end of the 2010 Major League Soccer season.

Celtic announced the signing on its website Thursday and said Ljungberg "could be in contention" to make his debut in the Old Firm derby against Rangers on Sunday. The club did not disclose details of the contract.

Ljungberg spent nine years at Arsenal before moving to West Ham in 2007. But he left the Hammers just one year into a four-year contract and took a brief break before joining the Seattle Sounders.
  

Celtic’s Lennon fumes over Brown sacking

GLASGOW: Neil Lennon was left fuming after a late red card for midfielder Scott Brown in his side’s 1-0 win over Motherwell ruled the Celtic captain out of Sunday’s Old Firm derby.

A wonder goal from Paddy McCourt on Wednesday moved the Hoops to the summit of the Scottish Premier League but Brown’s sending off left a sour taste in the mouth of his manager.

Brown, who had received his first booking just after the break, was shown a second yellow by referee Stephen Finnie for sliding in with his studs showing on Stephen Hammell in stoppage time.

The Celtic captain will now miss the match away to fierce rivals Rangers at Ibrox this weekend and his manager was clearly angry at the decision.

“If you see again he has done everything he can to pull out the tackle and Hammell’s actually kicked him on the follow through,” Lennon said.

“He’s gone in, he’s pulling away and then he’s slipped so it’s totally accidental and I’m very disappointed with that decision amongst many I was disappointed with.

“I thought he was trying to pull out of it so I don’t know if he was making a challenge or not. His left foot has come away and he’s actually carrying the weight to avoid any contact but the referee has deemed it as a second yellow and we’re pretty upset about it.

“It’s two yellow cards so I don’t know if we can appeal it or not.”

With Rangers’ game away to St Johnstone on Wednesday having been postponed due to a frozen pitch, Celtic will go into the new year and Sunday’s clash against Rangers one point clear of their fellow Glasgow giants, albeit having played two games more. 

Celtic beats Motherwell 1-0 to go top

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Celtic beat Motherwell 1-0 thanks to Paddy McCourt's superb individual goal to go provisionally top of the Scottish Premier League, above fierce Glasgow rival Rangers.

The winger received a short corner, dribbled round a defender and fired home into the bottom corner to put Celtic a point clear of Rangers, which has played two games less.

Celtic survived the final five minutes with 10 men after Scott Brown was sent off for a second bookable offense. Hearts beat St. Mirren 2-0 to consolidate third spot, five points behind Rangers but also having played two more matches.

At the other end of the table, Scott Vernon scored an own goal in second-half injury time to gift Aberdeen a 1-0 win at Hamilton to move six points clear of the bottom-place club.
  

Du-ri wants to show Ljungberg his underwear

GLASGOW: South Korean international Cha Du-ri admitted on Monday that he’s a fan of Celtic target Freddie Ljungberg’s fashionable choice of underwear as well as the Swede’s stylish game.

Former Arsenal star Ljungberg is poised to join the Scottish giants as Celtic boss Neil Lennon seeks new recruits as Du-ri and international compatriot Ki Sung-yueng miss a month of club duty to play in January’s Asian Cup in Qatar.

“Freddie Ljungberg is a very famous player – and I like his underwear,” Du-ri told the Scottish Daily Record.

“I have a lot of Calvin Klein underwear at home – maybe I’ll show him. Seriously, he’s a good player and if he comes to us I think he can help us. It’s great.”

Both Du-ri and Sung-yeung were on the scoresheet in Celtic’s 2-0 win over St Johnstone on Sunday. 
   

We’ll miss Korean duo, admits Celtic boss

GLASGOW: Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted his Scottish Premier League giants will be hit hard when South Korean duo Cha Du-ri and Ki Sung-yeung miss a month of the campaign because of January’s Asian Cup.

Du-ri and Sung-yeung scored both goals in injury time on Sunday in a 2-0 win over St Johnstone before flying out for the Asian tournament in Qatar.

“Du-ri is very underrated and has not been in a losing team yet in the league,” Lennon said.

“He keeps getting himself in there. Again he’s one of those who maybe lacks a bit of composure with the final ball at times but his application is tremendous and it was a marvellous goal.

“Sung-yeung has been fantastic for me for the last 11 or 12 weeks and he is hugely influential.

“But I could have strangled the both of them before Du-ri scored. Sung-yeung I fancied to at least hit the target with two free-kicks and Du-ri kept getting into good positions and hit the first man.

“But I’m delighted with their two performances over the last couple of months and we will miss them.”

The pain of losing the pair may be softened by the news that former Arsenal and Sweden midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is to train with the Parkhead club with a view to signing.

“It’s not a trial or anything like that. It’s so he can have a look at us and we can have a look at him,” Lennon said of the player who was recently plying his trade with Chicago Fire in the MLS.

“He had a horrendous time with injuries at West Ham but the last 18 months he has played a lot of games in America.

“You never lose that quality and he might just have something that we need. He has been a quality player for a long, long time and he is vastly experienced.”
  

Rangers, Celtic both win in Scotland

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Kenny Miller scored twice as Rangers thrashed Motherwell 4-1 Sunday to maintain its two-point lead over fierce Glasgow rival Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

The Scotland striker reached a league-high 21 goals for the campaign by scoring Rangers' first and last at Fir Park, with Steven Saunders' own goal and a stunning individual effort by Vladimir Weiss coming in between for the leaders.

Celtic needed goals in second-half injury time by South Korea internationals Cha Du-ri and Ki Sung-yeung to nick a 2-0 victory over St. Johnstone.

Aberdeen provisionally climbed off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win at Hibernian but has played two games more than last-place Hamilton.


    

Celtic in talks with former Sweden star Ljungberg

GLASGOW, Celtic (AP): Celtic manager Neil Lennon says the club is trying to sign former Sweden captain Freddie Ljungberg.

Lennon says he will meet with Ljungberg, who spent nine years at Arsenal and more recently played in Major League Soccer with the Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire, after initial contact was made with the midfielder "three or four weeks ago."

Lennon said after Celtic's 2-0 win over St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday that "it is not a trial or anything like that. It's so that we can have a look at him and he can look at us."

Ljungberg left Chicago at the end of the 2010 MLS season, having spent the previous year with Seattle. He was with Arsenal between 1998-07 before a move to West Ham.