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The match was box to box action from the starting whistle, and The Old Firm certainly lived up to it's reputation. The atmosphere was unlike any other, the commentators were barely audible over the rhythmic chanting of fans from both sides, clearly separated in blocks of blue and green. Three players and a manager saw red before the end of the match, but Celtic, down to nine men by the 56th minute, rallied from a 3-0 deficit to make it 3-2 before the end of the ninety minutes. However, Rangers were able to hold on and prolong the inevitable title win for Celtic.
Rangers were off the mark at the starting whistle, scoring the first goal just eleven minutes into the match. Akulo displayed some fantastic individual skills to net his 6th SPL goal this season, nut-megging the first Celtic defender and stayed cool and composed as he touched the ball past the last defender and slotted it into the back of the net past the outstretched Celtic keeper. Celtic were quick to attempt the counter attack, but Rangers were able to deny them an equalizer with some frantic defending and some help from their 12th man, the chorus of the Rangers fans rattling the rafters in the Ibrox. In the 28th minute, Celtic defender Cha was caught on the wrong side of Rangers midfielder Wallace, taking him down and seeing straight red for being the last man back and denying Wallace of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
After the restart, Rangers continued to press Celtic, determined to take advantage of their ten man squad. The ten men would soon turn to nine after Wanyama became the second Celtic player to see straight red for his reckless and dangerous tackle with both studs showing. In the 71st minute, substitute Little's first touch on the ball became Rangers' second goal of the match.Wallace found himself on the scoreline as well in the 76th minute after he made a great run down the wing and received the pass from Davis after he won the ball in the midfield. The first yellow card in the match didn't come until the 79th minute when Rangers' final substitute Kerkar fouled Celtic player Brown. As the end of the match neared, Celtic began pushing harder and challenging the Rangers' defense. Carlos Bocanegra was the final player to see red in the 87th minute after he denied Samaras of a clear goalscoring opportunity. Celtic were awarded a penalty kick and Brown converted the penalty kick into a goal, putting enough pace on the ball to beat Rangers' keeper McGregor despite him guessing the correct direction of the kick.
Celtic were not about to settle for a 3-1 loss. Four minutes of stoppage time were added to the 90 minutes of regular play. Rogne made added some extra pressure to the Rangers' defense in the 92nd minute with a brilliant header to make the scoreline 3-2, but Rangers were able to hold on to secure three points to cushion the impact of the ten point deduction they received for entering administration.
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