HEAD OVER HEELS
Davis scores wonder goal then reveals he’s loving life at Ibrox
IT was a goal that left the army of armchair fans with their jaws on the floor.
But Steven Davis admits he was just as surprised by his sensational acrobatic effort that sent Rangers on their way to Old Firm victory.
The veteran midfielder was at his masterful best as he bossed Celtic to lead his side into a Scottish Cup quarter-final showdown with St Johnstone. No shock there. But his opening goal was something a lot less ordinary as he hurled himself in the six-yard box to bury Joe Aribo’s deflected shot into the net.
It would have been an impressive effort for a teenager on a trampoline never mind a 36-year-old warhorse but it proved crucial as Gers went on to force a second goal and a lead Celtic couldn’t claw back.
Davis – who recently penned a new one-year deal – was thrilled with the somersault and his second goal of the season, despite still being in shock.
He said: “I’m not quite sure what I was doing in the box at that point! I don’t tend to get that high up too often these days but it sat up nicely and I had a go. I wasn’t sure at the time if I was offside but delighted to take the lead.”
The first goal is always vital in the psychological battle ground of an Old Firm encounter and Rangers never really looked back, despite Celtic passing up a couple of gilt-edged chances.
Davis said: “It was a really big game for us and we knew how important it was.
“It was a good game for us as well because we maybe sort of came off it a little bit after we got the championship but this was a really important game and we showed how much it meant to us.
“It was a game we needed at this time. We knew how much it meant to everyone going into it and I’m delighted we got the result.
“The last couple of Old Firm games we haven’t been quite at our best. Both teams had chances in the game but we took ours and they didn’t.
“We could have taken better care of the ball at times in the second half but overall we deserved to win.”
Davis is relishing his second coming at Ibrox. He was a serial winner in his first spell and has picked up where he left off in his return.
He said: “I’m loving it. To be playing at this age, at this stage of my career, for the club I love and with the chance to challenge for trophies is a great feeling. I’m thoroughly enjoying it at the minute.
“Whenever you get to this age it’s important just to keep playing and luckily I’ve played a good number of games this term and my body feels good.”
The Northern Ireland hero isn’t done yet either.
Rangers are huge favourites to kick on and claim a Double but the champions won’t take their foot off the gas.
Davis said: “At a club like Rangers, questions are always asked of you. Do you still have the desire? We certainly want the league championship to be the first of many for us and this is another step in the right direction.”
Rangers lived dangerously at times at Ibrox.
But it helps when they have another veteran hero between the sticks.
There was nothing surprising about Allan McGregor’s performance.
He did what he always does, producing top-class saves at key times and then producing a penalty stop when Odsonne Edouard could have pulled a goal back with 10 minutes left.
McGregor simply shrugged it off and said: “If you get a penalty, you are either left, right or down the middle. So lucky dip, isn’t it?”
It was a really big game for us and we knew how vital it was