Celtic claim derby triumph

Scott McDonald put the champions ahead early on but headers from David Weir and Daniel Cousin put Rangers ahead before McDonald levelled before half-time.

Barry Robson scored the winner with a penalty before Rangers defender Steven Whittaker was sent off in injury-time as Celtic went five points clear at the top of the table, although their opponents have three games in hand.

Rangers 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 ignored the possibility of being offside to drill his shot from 14 yards past Neil Alexander.

But the Light Blues responded positively in the 17th minute When a Steven Davis corner from the left was headed home by Weir, with Celtic keeper Artur Boruc flapping in a packed six-yard box.

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 took control as the game 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.

In the 69th minute Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot grappled McDonald to the ground inside the box to concede a penalty and earn a yellow card, the former St Mirren player lucky not to see red.

Robson drove his spot-kick past Alexander to give Celtic back their lead and from there on in, the home side looked in no real danger.

In injury time, Whittaker was sent packing by referee Craig Thomson after he revealed his frustration by fouling Nakamura on the touchline.