Billy Dodds cannot believe what Fabio Silva did in Rangers v Celtic
Rangers forward Fabio Silva missed a “glorious opportunity” to open the scoring against Celtic in 11 May’s Old Firm game, flummoxing former Gers striker Billy Dodds.
Dodds couldn’t believe what he was seeing as Silva spurned two chances in as many minutes from close range, hitting a shot and header respectively across the face of goal and wide.
Rangers suffered a double-blow not long after as Matt O’Riley and a John Lundstram own goal put Celtic 2-0 up, but Silva was involved at the other end immediately as Cyriel Dessers headed in a Borna Barisic cross for 2-1 – which is how the scores remained after a goalless second half.
In his analysis of his first chance on co-commentary for BBC SportSound (11 May, 12:41pm), Dodds said: “Fabio Silva just drags it. It’s a fabulous opportunity.
“What a chance that is”
Rangers left to rue missed Fabio Silva sitters
Rangers were under the cosh inside the opening minutes at Parkhead, with goalkeeper Jack Butland having already made several saves by the time Silva had their first real chance after a quarter of an hour.
As the ball fell kindly for him in the box, the Portuguese forward drilled a low effort goalwards but beat both Hart and his left-hand post by mere inches from inside the six-yard box.
Generating another opportunity just moments later, Silva couldn’t make up for his earlier miss, and those spurned opportunities proved costly when Celtic hit the front through Matt O’Riley on 35 minutes.
Celtic doubled their lead just minutes later, but Silva helped Rangers respond straight away, teeing up Barisic for a cross into the box which Dujon Sterling and Dessers combined to head in from close range.
Lundstram’s own goal and later red card certainly didn’t help the Gers’ efforts in the first half, and the otherwise ineffectual Silva was unable to create much else in the final third before being withdrawn 16 minutes from full-time.
Those two chances might just have been the sliding doors moments for Rangers early on in today’s Old Firm clash, but defeat for Rangers means sadly they need a miracle to prevent Celtic winning the title.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are lying in wait to snap up a sought-after free transfer from the Premier League.
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