clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Ibrox title wins; There's no place like home

As Rangers prepare for tonight's, potentially title-winning, clash with Dumbarton we have a brief look back at a few other games where we've sealed the title in Govan.

Gazza moments before scoring his second goal against Aberdeen to seal 8 in a row.
Gazza moments before scoring his second goal against Aberdeen to seal 8 in a row.
Ben Radford/Getty Images

Even though we Hibsed it on Saturday at Raith Rovers, we've got another shot at clinching the title as Dumbarton are the visitors to Ibrox later tonight. Unlike Saturday this isn't dependant on results elsewhere so a win seals promotion back to the Premiership and secures the first bit of silverware of a possible treble.

Anyway, to get you in the mood for tonight's game we've had a look back at some of the other times when the title has been secured at Ibrox;

Rangers 3-1 Aberdeen April 1996 aka The Paul Gascoigne Show

Aberdeen were the visitors for the final home game of the 1995/96 season as Rangers looked to clinch 8 in a row. An early goal from Brian Irvine put Walter Smith's side under some pressure but Paul Gascoigne quickly took the game by the scruff of the neck and turned in a performance that remains one of the very best Ibrox has ever seen.

Just two minutes after Aberdeen scored Rangers had a corner in-front of the West Enclosure. Brian Laudrup knocked the ball to Gazza on the edge of the box as he teased Billy Dodds into coming to challenge him. A quick step over lured Dodds in. A drop of the shoulder later and he was away. Dodds and Dean "father of soon-to-be Rangers star Josh" Windass were shortly left behind as Gazza showed a remarkable turn of pace before stroking it beyond Michael Watt beautifully.

On the hour mark, as Ibrox began to get just a little restless, Gazza done it again. Only this time it was even better than his first. Winning the ball just inside the half, Gascoigne drove forward. Brushing off several challenges from midfield, the Aberdeen defence continued to allow the England international to push forward at them. An intelligent run across the Aberdeen centre-backs created more space for Gazza to continue his run and after muscling his way through two last gasp attempts he curled it into the back of the net.

Just three minutes after that Gordon Durie won a penalty after getting tangled with Paul Barnard. Gascoigne stepped up to seal his hat-trick, as well as the title, and after a short pep talk from Richard Gough he cooled rolled the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Michael Watt never even moved.

Rangers 6-1 Dunfermline May 2003 aka Sutton spits the dummy

A final day shoot-out between Rangers, who hosted Dunfermline, and Celtic, who were away at Killie, stood between Alex McLeish's side and the second trophy of what would be the most recent treble won by the club to date. A third minute opener by Michael Mols settled early nerves and built up the belief that the title would be secured. The Pars weren't following the script and equalised not long after. Claudio Caniggia made it 2-1 after 16 minutes and when Shota Arveladze scored a third on 30 minutes it was clear Rangers were holding up their end. With Celtic taking a 3-0 lead in Ayrshire it suddenly looked as though the title might be heading to Celtic after all.

Then Rangers scored two in two minutes through Ronald de Boer, who had possibly his best season in a Rangers shirt in 2002/2003, and sub Stevie Thompson and it looked as though the title would go down to the wire. Celtic scored a fourth but it still wasn't enough to stop Rangers securing their fiftieth title. A last minute penalty, scored by Mikel Arteta, made it 6-1 and the title was, almost, sealed.

The Rangers game finished a minute or two before the game at Rugby Park but it would have needed a miracle to wrestle the trophy from Barry Ferguson. A tense few minutes was finally met with a huge eruption as the final whistle blew 20 miles away down the M77.

Despite all this the fun wasn't over yet, not for those at home anyway. Chris Sutton kinda, sorta, totally had a meltdown on TV accusing Dunfermline of "lying down" at Ibrox.

Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen May 1991 aka Three in a row

Gascoigne putting three past them in 1996 wasn't the first time Aberdeen had lost at Ibrox on the day the title was won. Five years earlier it was a very different Rangers side which faced the Dons. Walter Smith had just taken charge of the first team following Graeme Souness' move to Liverpool and needed to win to secure the league in only his fourth game. Aberdeen's superior goal difference meant a draw sent the title north with the Dons.

Both sides had chances in front of goal and as the first half wore on it was the Light BLues who looked more likely to open the scoring. Mark Hateley broke the deadlock with five minutes left of the first  half after looping a header over Michael Watt; who must have dreaded seeing "Rangers (a)" towards the final few weeks of a season.

10 minutes after the break Hateley made it two. Watt spilled a shot Mo Johnston but it only went as far as Hateley who tapped it home from a few yards. Ibrox exploded and "Championees" chants quickly filled the air as the players looked to see out the remainder of the match.

Aberdeen continued to try find a way back into the game but it wasn't to be for them. The title was staying at Ibrox and would be the first of many to be won as manager by Walter Smith.