An Alan Thompson goal after 18 minutes gave Celtic a 1-0 victory today in the Parkhead clash with Rangers - a win that virtually seals the Scottish Premier League championship. With a 9 point gap already, Rangers went into todays match knowing that only a win would give them any chance of clawing back the difference. Todays Celtic victory however, making it a 12-point gap with only 1 Old Firm clash still to come, means that Celtic would have to lose at least 4 more games than Rangers before the end of the season. With Celtic on top form, and having only lost once in the League so far, this looks very unlikely. In a scrappy affair, in which Rangers right-back Ricksen was sent off for 2 bookable tackles, a heavily depleted Rangers side failed to create chances for £12m hitman Tore Andre Flo. Although ref Hugh Dallas did miss a stone-wall penalty claim from Flo, Celtic were still worthy victors on the day. Though neither team is willing to accept that the Leauge is over, Dick Advocaat did say, "We have to be realistic. It will now be very, very difficult to catch Celtic...we have to concentrate first on getting into second place."
