Oh No

Apr 6 2008 By Mark Guidi

Strachan Sees The Title Slip Away As Celts Slump Again

GORDON STRACHAN last night admitted the SPL title is on its way to Ibrox after his side lost 1-0 at home to 10-man Motherwell.

Celtic now have only six games to play and trail Rangers by six points with their bitter rivals also having two games in hand.

Well winger Simon Lappin inflicted the killer blow on Strachan's side at Parkhead with a goal after 33 minutes.

Mark McGhee's outfit were reduced to 10 men after the break when Bob Malcolm was red carded but the Hoops failed to take advantage of the extra man as they ran out of ideas.

The fans were furious with their team's display and booed the team off the park as some chanted "Strachan, Strachan get tae ****". The Hoops boss vowed to fight on but said: "It's now going to be near impossible for us to win the league.

"That's my opinion although I hope it's wrong. We'll still keep plugging away and will regroup for next week.

"The fact Motherwell were down to 10 men for 40 minutes doesn't make the defeat feel worse. I'm just disappointed to lose the match.

"The way it is for us now is that we create chances but can't score. We also can't get a clean sheet when we need one."

Strachan subbed the club's top scorer Scott McDonald for Georgios Samaras and the Australian striker was clearly unhappy at the move. He stared out his manager in disgust then threw his tracksuit top away in anger when he reached the dugout.

The fans were also unhappy with the substitution but Strachan was more concerned with his player's behaviour and blasted McDonald.

The Parkhead gaffer, who had Neil Lennon in the dugout beside him for the first time since the former skipper rejoined the club as a coach, said: "There's nothing I can do about the reaction of the crowd.

"I took Scott off because I was trying to win the game.

"There are more important things going at this club than Scott's reaction. Scott has apologised for his reaction. He knows he was wrong."

For the first time since 1989 Celtic have now gone three games in a row at home without scoring a goal.

The result also means Rangers could now win the title on April 27 - a date that has been pencilled in by the SPL to be an Old Firm game at Parkhead.

The SPL post-split fixtures will be announced on Tuesday and league bosses will want to avoid the nightmare scenario of Rangers clinching the trophy at Celtic Park.

Meanwhile, Well boss Mark McGhee was delighted with the shock victory.

He said: "We didn't get close to Celtic in the first half hour and scored against the run of play. So we were fortunate.

"But I'm delighted with the victory - it's my first at Celtic Park as a manager.

"We drew with Rangers earlier in the season and it was important to me to be able to look Walter Smith in the eye and show we could do something against Celtic."

McGhee agreed with ref Calum Murray's decision to send off midfielder Malcolm for a foul on Massimo Donati.

He said: "Bob's view is that he got the ball but I've no complaints with the decision.

"I felt there was no malice from Bob but I do see why it could be deemed dangerous."

McGhee will now jet off abroad with his players for three days' sunshine before next week's return with Celtic.

He revealed: "I said if we beat Celtic I'd let the players take their golf clubs. I've just been reminded of that. I'll try to get my handicap down."

Lappin was delighted with his winner and said: "It's my first goal for Motherwell and I'm so pleased."