Celtic 3 - 2 Rangers Sun 27/04/08

David Weir (17)
Daniel Cousin (29)

Celtic's Scottish Premier League title hopes are firmly back on course after a 3-2 win over leaders Rangers in a pulsating encounter at Parkhead.

Scott McDonald put the champions ahead early on with a goal that was clearly off-side but headers from David Weir and Daniel Cousin put Rangers ahead before McDonald levelled before half-time.

Barry Robson scored with a penalty after the break to regain the lead and in a typically-enthralling Old Firm encounter, there was one more bit of drama remaining.

Rangers defender Steven Whittaker, booked earlier for a foul on Lee Naylor, was sent off in injury time after a foul on Hoops midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

This crunch match needed little extra spice but it got it when Rangers manager Walter Smith criticised Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell for complaining about the season possibly being extended if the Ibrox side reached the UEFA Cup final in Manchester next month.

The first-half matched anything the Old Firm had served up in over 100 years of rivalry.

Rangers had lost 2-1 at Parkhead only 12 days previously to a last-gasp goal by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and this time fell behind with only four minutes gone to a McDonald goal.

Andreas Hinkel drove a long ball towards Vennegoor of Hesselink who had the time and space to head the ball down to the Australian striker who was offside to drill his shot from 14 yards past Neil Alexander.

The loss of the early goal put paid to the Light Blues' defensively-minded game-plan and they responded positively, pushing with some enthusiasm for the equaliser.

Gary Caldwell was fortunate not to be penalised when the ball appeared to strike his arm.

But a minute later the visitors were level when a Davis corner from the left was headed home Weir, with Celtic keeper Artur Boruc flapping in a packed six-yard box.

Play raged from end to end. Alexander had a good save from Nakamura's free-kick from just outside the box which threatened to sneak in at the near post.

Moments later, Rangers wide-man Nacho Novo robbed Naylor wide on the right but the little Spaniard found no takers with his cut-back from the bye-line.

The Light Blues had the edge and in the 29th minute they took the lead from another Davis corner which left the Celtic defence exposed.

When the flighted delivery came in at the near post, Cousin rose highest to glance high past Boruc.

Celtic came into the game as it sped towards the interval and with three minutes of a pulsating first period remaining, McDonald's shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Christian Dailly and looped over Alexander to draw the teams level.

The interval gave everyone inside Parkhead the opportunity to draw breath but the mayhem resumed after the break.

McDonald was sent clean through by Nakamura but strangely opted to square the ball to Vennegoor of Hesselink who was robbed by Rangers defender Sasa Papac as he hesitated before getting his shot away.

Weir hobbled off in the 51st minute to be replaced by Amdy Faye, a curious substitution by Ibrox boss Walter Smith.

The Parkhead side racked up the corner count but found the Ibrox side in resilient mood.

Vennegoor of Hesselink was fortunate just receive a yellow card when a red looked the more obvious choice when he put his boot into Faye's waist.

In the 69th minute Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot grappled McDonald to the ground just on the edge of the box but referee Thomson pointed to the spot for a penalty and earn a yellow card, when the first contact was clearly out side the penalty box.

Robson scored with the spot-kick to give Celtic back their lead.

In injury time, Whittaker was sent packing by Thomson by fouling Nakamura on the touchline.

Rangers manager Walter Smith praised his players for their 'fantastic' effort three days after their UEFA Cup semi-final first leg against Fiorentina.

But he admitted they had conceded soft goals without injured goalkeeper Allan McGregor and the suspended Carlos Cuellar, whose centre-back partner Weir limped off with a groin strain.

Smith said: 'I felt it was a decent game but I am a little bit disappointed to give Celtic the goals rather easily.

'It was poor defending from ourselves. That apart, our players did exceptionally well to come back from the early goal.

'But we are disappointed to lose the last goal, I think it was a contributory factor that Davie Weir had come off.

'With Christian Dailly, Amdy Faye and a new goalkeeper, we had a little bit of disruption in defence.'

RANGERS: Alexander, Broadfoot, Dailly, Weir (Faye 51), Papac, Ferguson, Whittaker, Hemdani (Darcheville 79), Davis, Novo, Cousin,

Subs Not Used: Smith, Lennon, McMillan, Fleck, Boyd,

Ref: C Thomson

Man-of-the-match: Ferguson

Attendance: 58,662