Celtic and Lennon both conspicuous by their absence as Rangers defy the odds to win compelling contest

THERE was a theory that when Neil Lennon failed to appear on the touchline after the interval for this routinely tumultuous Old Firm encounter that he was searching for his players.

They certainly had not turned up for the first half. Indeed, they appeared as a substantive force with only minutes of this compelling contest left.

There may be two reasons for this lack of visibility. First, there was Celtic's contraction of the virus that has afflicted them on visits to Inverness, in Scottish Communities League Cup finals and on the odd, very odd, trip to Rugby Park. This ailment produces a listlessness that is characterised by a lack of commitment and punished by defeat. It is hard to predict. Celtic, after all, have performed powerfully at Ibrox on occasion, most notably in last season's Scottish Cup tie.

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