Celtic left decimated by rampant Rangers

RANGERS 3 Novo 28, 79 pen; Ferguson 57

CELTIC 0

LET'S see: a rampant Rangers complete a hat-trick of Old Firm victories for the first time in a decade, a rabble of a Celtic team finish with nine bookings and heads so hot they needed dunking in a bath of ice. Just before the end, Alan Hutton and Lee Naylor clashed on the touchline and not for the first time a row kicked-off, both goalkeepers sprinting out of their goal to get involved. Just after the end, Artur Boruc refused to shake the hand of first Barry Ferguson, then David Weir, then Lee McCulloch. Ibrox would have been entitled to explode in anger but instead they merely mocked the Pole. It was another moment of ignominy on a day Gordon Strachan will want to forget.

For that and for the distressing scenes that unfolded when Stephen McManus clashed heads with Daniel Cousin in the closing minutes of the first half. McManus was knocked unconscious, his head was put in a brace and he was stretchered off. Mercifully, he was recovering in hospital last night.

Rangers were everything Celtic were not; aggressive yet disciplined for the most part, defensively sound and clinical going forward. The Celtic rearguard was make-shift - Darren O'Dea started at right-back and Gary Caldwell was centre-half before switching positions later on - and both had unhappy afternoons. O'Dea in particular was hunted down by that little ball of fire, Nacho Novo. The Spaniard, starting his first SPL game in two months, scored the first and third goals, the excellent Ferguson getting the one in the middle.

Six players were making their Old Firm debuts. Het-up to the high heavens it was a certainty that some of them would get carried away and we had to wait just five minutes to figure out whose brain was frying.

Scott McDonald had an acrobatic volley turned away for a corner by Alan McGregor and as the teams jostled for position in advance of the delivery the first skirmish of the day unfolded. McDonald appeared to stand on McGregor's foot. Rangers' players ran at him. McManus led him away, a furious Barry Ferguson tracking them, jabbing his finger in their direction. McDonald was booked and things settled down. Briefly.

Things were happening everywhere. Niggles. Wind-ups. Bits and pieces that told you that this was going to be a lively afternoon. The anonymous Shunsuke Nakamura went down easily following a Weir tackle. Weir stood over him mouthing stuff. Whatever he was saying he wasn't expressing concern about Nakamura's well-being. Not long after that, another Celtic booking. Donati nailed Hutton. Hutton had words. Donati had words back. Yellow card for the Italian.

Celtic's discipline was not good, nor was their passing and their defending gave Rangers every encouragement. The home team targeted the right-back area as one of infinite bounty as far as they were concerned and they were not far wrong. O'Dea was in bother from the beginning.

Rangers looked the winner from the moment they scored their first goal. It came just after Donati's booking and it involved the man he fouled. Ferguson, bossing the midfield, found Hutton on the right, the full-back sending in the type of precision cross that has defenders quaking in their boots. It was a delicious ball, virtually undefendable. As it bounced up, Nacho Novo got in behind O'Dea and Caldwell and headed home.

Nacho Novo: the great survivor of Ibrox. How many times has he been dropped over the years and how many times has he bounced back and scored important goals? A fortnight ago against Hibs he wasn't even in the squad. Seemingly fourth choice. Now his name was being sung all around Ibrox. If only for a little while.

Soon, the baying returned. Brown fouled Sasa Papac. Ibrox erupted and into the book Brown went. Mentally, Celtic were now in the early stages of meltdown, the suspicion hardening when the half ended with Donati berating the officials as they left the field. Quite what he had to complain about was anybody's guess but it was another daft moment from a team that had cornered the market in tomfoolery by the game's end.

By half-time, of course, they had suffered the upsetting loss of their captain. And there was further woe to come. A minute into the new half Juri Jarosik had a wonderful chance to level it but he sliced wide when afforded time and space in front of goal. Caldwell then had a thumping shot charged down by McGregor. The lights went out there and then. Save for a few sorties easily defended by a Rangers defence on top form, the home team owned the rest of the game.

They added to their lead just before the hour and it would have come as little surprise to anybody when they did so. Again Celtic's defending was lacking. Caldwell dealt with a Cousin cross by heading weakly to an unmarked McCulloch at the edge of the penalty area. McCulloch drove in a shot that got caught up between Ferguson and John Kennedy, McManus's replacement. The Rangers captain was the first to react to the loose ball, turning and slamming it past Boruc.

No contest now. Celtic's petulance continued and Rangers hit them with a third in the 78th minute. Charlie Adam did some stellar work on the right hand side, cutting in to the Celtic penalty area where he was taken down by Evander Sno. Adam got to his feet and signalled to his teammates that he'd won the award and that he was taking the kick. His captain put his arm around him and broke the bad news. Novo teed it up and sent Boruc the wrong way and then the Spaniard, who had been hobbling just minutes beforehand, left the field to a rousing ovation.

It was over bar the pushing and shoving. Two minutes from the end Hutton and Naylor had their spat, a spot of bad blood that sparked the intervention of McGregor and Boruc. All four got booked. Eleven yellows in total but only three goals. The noise at the end told you who they belonged to.

How they rated

CELTIC

6 Artur Boruc

Was left criminally exposed by defence for goals. Didn't really have much to do - apart from picking ball out of net.

4 Darren O'Dea

Booked for unsporting behaviour, struggled all game and at fault for Rangers' opener, as Novo found too much space.

5 Gary Caldwell

Tested McGregor with decent effort but inexplicably allowed ball to drift to back post, from where Novo headed in.

5 Stephen McManus

Left the pitch on a stretcher following a sickening clash of heads with Cousin. His loss proved fatal to Celtic.

6 Lee Naylor

Not as effective in first half with some very wasteful balls, but was Celtic's biggest attacking threat in the second half.

5 Shinsuke Nakamura

Usually brilliant Japanese was replaced by McGeady early in second half after having little impact on match.

6 Massimo Donati

Went into the referee's book for hacking down Hutton and missed the best chance of the match with back post header.

5 Scott Brown

Given role to get forward and support McDonald but again more erratic than effective. Booked for a challenge on Papac.

5 Evander Sno

Brought down Adam for Rangers' penalty and was another of the many weak links in an off-colour Celtic side.

5 Juri Jarosik

Thunderous 35-yarder tipped over before glorious miss at start of second half. Not enough threat in final third.

5 Scott McDonald

Drew a decent save from McGregor with clever snapshot from the right flank in first half. Failed to impact as lone striker.

Substitutes: John Kennedy (for McManus, 45): On in first-half stoppage time to replace the injured McManus. Struggled alongside team-mates in makeshift Celtic defence. Aiden McGeady (for Nakamura, 57): Brought on to replace the ineffective Japanese. Irishman was booked within two minutes of being on pitch and only posed sporadic threat.

RANGERS

7 Allan McGregor

Tipped thunderous drive from Jarosik over in first half, and was man of the match contender after a series of excellent saves.

8 Alan Hutton

Taunted opposition down flanks as he bombed forward with menace, and provided cross for opener. Booked late on.

7 Carlos Cuellar

Former Osasuna centre-back looked comfortable in defensive role - did well to quell what little threat opposition posed.

8 David Weir

Solid in central defensive role all afternoon in what was his finest game in some time. Looked like the old Davie Weir again.

7 Sasa Papac

Bosnia-Herzegovina defender showed much composure on ball and positioned himself well to thwart opposition attack.

7 Lee McCulloch

Shot blocked by O'Dea before rebound broke to Ferguson for the skipper to blast home. Saw his late goal disallowed.

9 Barry Ferguson

Threaded ball to Hutton in build-up to opener, rifled home the second. Usual customary zeal from the Gers' captain.

7 Kevin Thomson

Put himself about when it was needed, passed ball tidily and found space - a willing worker in midfield role alongside Ferguson.

7 Charlie Adam

Caused problems all day with his feints and dummies, making strong case for return to starting line-up on regular basis.

7 Daniel Cousin

Targetman proved a right handful for the Celtic defence - loves to go in where it hurts, as McManus can testify.

9 Nacho Novo

What to say? A big match player. Star of the show. Rewarded for his great contribution with goals either side of half time.

Substitutes: DaMarcus Beasley (for Cousin, 74): The American winger was brought into the fray with just over 15 minutes of the match remaining. Played with his head to hold ball up well, and almost netted late on; Steven Naismith (for Novo, 79): Little time to impact on match but the job was done by this point - thanks largely to the player he replaced.