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Celtic pile pressure on McLeish

09/11/2005

Rangers manager Alex McLeish will come under increased pressure to step down as the Gers were knocked out of the CIS Insurance Cup 2-0 by arch-rivals Celtic.

A Shaun Maloney effort and a Stefan Klos own goal sent the green half of Glasgow into the semi-finals as the holders' miserable night ended with ten men after Sotirios Kyrgiakos saw red for two bookable offences.

McLeish will now be sweating over his Ibrox future after just two wins in 11 matches have left Rangers trailing Celtic by 14 points in the Scottish Premier League and now out of the CIS Cup.

Celtic started much the better side and were deservedly ahead on 27 minutes as Maloney's 30-yard drive flew into the net despite the goalkeeper Klos, who was out of position, getting a hand to the ball.

Neither side produced many clear-cut chances throughout the game and it wasn't until the introduction of Peter Lovenkrands at half-time that Rangers looked like creating an equaliser.

Their closest effort came on 49 minutes as a bad back-pass from Aiden McGeadie fell to Dado Prso but the Croatian could only shoot wide under pressure from Bobo Balde.

Rangers' hopes faded with 25 minutes to go as Kyrgiakos was first booked for shoving Maloney then received a second yellow card for sarcastically applauding referee Kenny Clark.

However, it was to be Celtic's night and they wrapped up the game with eight minutes to go as Shunsuke Nakamura's dangerously whipped in cross was deflected in by Klos.

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