GLASGOW (Reuters) - Celtic surged five points clear of bitter rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premier League after a convincing 2-1 Old Firm victory at Ibrox on Sunday.
With just four games remaining reigning champions Celtic are now firm favourites to claim their 40th title, with 86 points compared to the 81 of Rangers.
First half goals from Stilian Petrov and Craig Bellamy had the points virtually in the bag by the interval although substitute Steve Thompson pulled a goal back three minutes from time to set up a frantic finale.
Despite the defeat Rangers manager Alex McLeish said his side would fight to the bitter end.
"It's going to be tough and I would rather be in Celtic's position -- they can only lose it now," he said.
"But there's games to be played and we have to win them to apply any pressure. We're not giving up the ghost yet."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill told BBC Radio Scotland that he was relieved to hear the final whistle: "It was the longest three minutes I have ever seen after the boards went up!
"I thought Stan Petrov was great, but so was everyone."
Petrov guided home a magnificent header from a Didier Agathe cross after 21 minutes before Bellamy raced in on goal to curl a fabulous shot around defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos and keeper Ronald Waterreus into the far corner on 34 minutes.
Defender Marvin Andrews almost halved the deficit in first-half stoppage time, heading against the crossbar.
Andrews, a devout Christian, started the game after refusing surgery for a cruciate ligament injury, preferring to put his faith in God to heal him.
"The boys were all fully behind the decision (to play him) and I thought he was tired near the end, that's why I took him off. He had given everything."
Rangers piled forward in the second half and Celtic keeper David Marshall twice denied Spanish striker Nacho Novo in one-on-one situations.
Celtic skipper Jackie McNamara also cleared a Novo effort off the line after he had rounded Marshall.
At the other end Rangers' Dutch goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus pulled off a spectacular save to keep out a hooked shot from Stanislav Varga.
Thompson crashed home a late consolation following a goalmouth scramble, but Celtic hung on.
"It is in our own hands obviously," added O'Neill. "We need to win three out of the four games left but just in recent weeks it has been proved it has been difficult for us."
Copyright 2007 - MOP Squad Sports
Top of Page
