CELTIC 2-1 RANGERS
Goals from Lee Naylor and Martin Fortune handed Celtic their first Old Firm win of the season following an entertaining game at Celtic Park.
In the opening five minutes Naylor curled in a free kick and it was deflected off David Weir to give Neil Lennon a dream start in his first Old Firm game as manager.
Rangers lost goalkeeper Allan McGregor early on when he went over on an ankle and Neil Alexander replaced him.
Celtic continued to dominate the first half in which Robbie Keane was quiet – and Rangers hit an equaliser against the run of play on 42 minutes when former Celt Kenny Miller struck. Haunting Celtic again, Miller headed in Whittaker’s cross at the back post.
However it took Celtic just a minute to go in front again – when Fortune headed in Aiden McGeady’s cross and Alexander let it trickle through his legs on the stroke of half time.
The second half was played in a slightly less frantic tempo and Rangers began playing good football – with Maurice Edu in particular causing Celtic all sorts of problems and going close to firing an equaliser on several occasions.
Artur Boruc then picked up a finger injury trying to claw the ball away from Miller and was replaced by Zaluska.
Rangers became increasingly frustrated but had a glorious chance to level when Edu played Miller in and he only had Zaluska to beat but fired wide.
Minutes later, Miller got on the end of another flick from Edu and struck the post to the huge relief of the Parkhead faithful who were in tremendous voice all evening.
Lee McCulloch was then dismissed for Walter Smith’s side for a second yellow, following his late challenge on McGeady in stoppage time.
Rangers have the last laugh as champions but nonetheless they failed to rub salt in the wounds of their bitter rivals, who enjoyed what was the highlight of a disastrous season.
