Rangers overhauled arch city rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table yesterday after a thrilling 3-2 win in the "Old Firm" derby at Ibrox.
Rangers were stunned by a Chris Sutton goal for Celtic after just 19 seconds, but hit back almost immediately through Australian Craig Moore and added further goals in the first half through Dutch duo Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols.
John Hartson gave Celtic hope on the hour with a crisp strike which reduced the deficit to 3-2 but Rangers refused to buckle to the pressure and were unlucky not to add another goal in the dying seconds.
The win allowed Rangers to leapfrog Celtic, and Alex McLeish's side now hold a two-point lead at the summit.
Celtic started the match brighter, going ahead when Chris Sutton poked the ball through a bunch of static Rangers players in the area after some excellent work on the right by John Hartson.
Swedish striker Henrik Larsson then missed a great chance to double the champions' advantage - and how costly it was to prove as Rangers turned 0-2 into 1-1.
Australian defender Moore gave the home fans reason for cheer when he rose brilliantly to header in a Fernando Ricksen corner on ten minutes to bring Rangers level.
But for all Celtic's attacking intent, it was Rangers who scored the crucial third goal of the game.
Dutch midfielder Ronald de Boer escaped the Celtic defence to cushion a volley past Celtic 'keeper Rab Douglas from a Lovenkrands cross to put Rangers ahead on 35 minutes.
Just five minutes later Mols seized on a defensive mix-up to give Rangers a 3-1 half-time lead.
The men in blue squandered several opportunities to kill off the match in the second half.
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