Celtic, Rangers in goalless Old Firm stalemate

Celtic manager Neil Lennon would only concede his side had a slight advantage in the race for the Scottish Premier League title after they played out a goalless draw with rivals Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday. The result, in the 300th league meeting between the Glasgow giants, could have been even better for the Hoops had Allan McGregor not superbly saved Georgios Samaras' 82nd minute penalty. It means Celtic now trail Rangers by one point at the top of the league, although they have played a game less. And Lennon knows that if his side win their remaining five matches they will be crowned champions in his debut season as manager. "People wanted to call this a pivotal game but I didn't see it that way and it's still not. It gives us a slight advantage going into the remaining five games," the Hoops boss said. "Rangers could quite easily win all their games. You have to be thinking that way and not expecting any favours from anyone. "We have a game in hand which we need to get a positive result from and take it from there. "It's a slight advantage. My side are capable of going on an unbeaten run - we've only lost one league game in 24 games - but that might not be enough." His Rangers counterpart Walter Smith admitted he would rather his side were in Celtic's position but predicted there could be more twists to come in the title race. "I think it puts Celtic into a position that we would want to be in," the Rangers manager said. "We still have to close it out and we still have to win our games and see what happens. "There have been points dropped in the last half dozen games or so over the past few seasons so we just have to wait and see what happens in that respect." Lennon had been the focus of media attention in the build up to the game when it was revealed he, along with his solicitor Paul McBride QC and politician Trish Godman, had been sent explosive devices in the post. But the Hoops manager said the only thing he had been worried about was the match at Ibrox. "I was apprehensive about the game. It's a huge game and coming here is always difficult. I've come here three times now and gone back unbeaten three times," Lennon said. "It could have been better but we finished the stronger team and I'm very proud of them. I'm glad that the Old Firm scenario is all over and we don't have to go through all the hype that surrounds it. "That's seven - I think that's plenty for one season. On the balance of the seven games I think we have proved we are more of a match for Rangers if not better whether they go on to win the league or not." Rangers boss Smith, who retires at the end of the season, said he would be glad to see the back of the baggage that goes with the Old Firm fixture. But the veteran boss said the incidents on the field in the Old Firm matches this season were no different than from those that take place in derbies across the country. "If you are talking this year it has reached a level that is obviously unacceptable," Smith said of the rivalry. "But if you look at the games we have played this season there has maybe been a couple of incidents in two of them and if you watch football over Britain there are similar incidents that place nearly every weekend. However, at Rangers or Celtic they get blown up. "If you look at that game I can argue about penalty kicks but the game was played in a competitive and decent spirit as have the majority of matches that we have had this season." Smith nevertheless had a swipe at Celtic for being award a penalty kick. "The whole of the season all we have heard is that Celtic don't get penalty kicks well they got one and they tried to get another one as well," he said. "Both of them were exactly the same in my mind. Both the players ran into the players and I don't think they were penalties. I think the referee has got that second one wrong."