After 37 games of up and downs, cheers and jeers it would come down to the last game of the season, Helicopter Sunday 2.
Rangers were sitting 2 points ahead in the league but facing a goal difference defecit of 1, if Celtic won then Rangers had to take the 3 points. So it was a case of win at all costs, win the game and win the league, stop the Celtic challenge and become heroes for a new generation. An easy task you would think for one of the big 2, but this game was at Tannadice, a ground that had not yeilded the full three points for 3 years, a Dundee United team who were still fighting for a European spot, a Rangers team who were said to lack the bottle of champions.
Before the game the usual reports in the press were from Celtic players saying Rangers didn't deserve to win the league and this helped to give the players the boost that would ultimately see them crowned Champions of Scotland.
Kick off was at 1 O'clock and straight from the kick off it was clear who's day it would be, the crowd inside Tannadice were bouncing, vocal, the 12th man, and they done their team the service of making it quite clear they were there and they were taking no prisoners. Lining up 4-4-2 the Gers pushed from the very start and that paid off in the 6th minute when a sublime pass from the outside of Davis' right boot found Boyd in space, the prolific hitman turned provider as he turned and delivered a ball across to Man of the Match Lafferty who challenged well and prodded past a helpless Zaluska, the stadium and half the country exploded in delight.
Davis continued to be a problem on the right and delivered a low cross to the backpost that was blazed over the bar by Kenny Miller, the rest of the first half was tight with Dundee United's only real chance coming from a David Robertson header that was easily claimed by goalkeeper Alexander. Paul Dixon had a good spell, delivering a few crosses into the Rangers box but the best defense in the league held firm under every wave of attack. As the time ticked on it was again time for a Rangers assault, 32 minutes had past and Lafferty again had the ball in the net but it was chopped off as Miller was offside when he delivered the ball to the Ulsterman, a few minutes later it was Kris Boyd's turn, some clever play in the box and a delightful turn gave the deadliest striker in the country a sight at goal but some good defending by Kovacevic denied Boyd his goal on the line. The second inevitably came on the stroke of half time, Dods gave away a shocking freekick on the edge of the area and up stepped Sasa Papac, his deadball was struck against the side of the United wall and fell perfectly for Pedro Mendes to unleash one of his trademark bullets, his first won goal of the season, his last cemented Rangers position at the top of the pile, struck expertly through a mass of orange shirts he found the bottom corner and left Zaluska as helpless as he was for the first.
As the teams ran out for the second half the stadium was buzzing with the sense of impending celebration, no-one knew what would happen over the course of 45 minutes, would United mount an attack that would pull the title from their grasp, would Rangers hold out for a famous victory, we would soon find out.
It took only 7 minutes before the question was answered and both game and title were wrapped up, and it had to be the number 9, the man who has scored more goals than anyone in the team, more than anyone in the country, Kris Boyd scored number 31 of the season and secured himself his first SPL winners medal, a Steven Whittaker cross tore apart the United defense and Boyd drove through the heart of the box to fire past an again helpless Zaluska, the delight was evident, the screams of the crowd drowning out the home support, every one in the country knew that Rangers were Champions yet again.
Substitute Sandaza tried to get a quick reply but as with every United attack it was poorly wasted, Rangers took their foot off the pedal and sat back on their 3 goal lead, waiting to be crowned. Subsitutions were made and it was a fitting run out for Barry Ferguson and Nacho Novo, the 2 players in the squad who bleed royal blue, for all their valued service they deserved to play their part and Novo forced the keeper into a save after some good play. As the game drew to a close United finally managed a proper attack and it was left to their substitute centre back to force Alexander into a superb save from a volley.
The final whistle was heard, then all you could hear in Dundee was the rapture of the Rangers support, after 3 long years the SPL title was coming home, number 52 was won, trophy number 109 was off the helicopter and safely in the hands of the boys in royal blue. The faces of the players told the story, the voices of the fans painted the picture, the SPL table said all that needed to be said
Rangers are Champions.
-/-Ace-\-
www.talkingfootball.co.uk
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