Vennegoor of Hesselink stuns Gers

Shunsuke Nakamura's magnificent opener in the first half was cancelled out by substitute Nacho Novo shortly after the break, before Carlos Cuellar saw red for handball on the line with 20 minutes to go.

Scott McDonald failed to net from the penalty but an injury-time winner from Vennegoor of Hesselink could prove to be one of Celtic's most important goals of the season.

The Hoops now trail Rangers by a single point, although the Ibrox club have two games in hand as they chase their first title in three years.

Celtic passed up a great early opportunity to open the scoring when Nakamura sent Vennegoor of Hesselink through on goal with only Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor to beat. but the striker's first touch was poor and McGregor raced off his line to block before Sasa Papac hooked to safety.

But the home side opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Nakamura collected a Gary Caldwell pass 30 yards out and took a touch before rifling an unstoppable swerving shot just inside McGregor's right-hand post.

But Novo hauled Rangers back into the game after 55 minutes. Mark Wilson made a clearance before going to ground but no foul was forthcoming and he was still flat out on the pitch when the ball broke to Whittaker, who slipped a great pass through to Novo and the Spaniard produced a clinical right-foot finish.

But Rangers were dealt a blow when Cuellar was sent off with 20 minutes remaining for using his hand to deflect a netbound Nakamura shot onto the crossbar and referee Kenny Clark immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

McGregor appeared to be in come discomfort with an ankle injury but was again the hero for Rangers when he blocked McDonald's spot-kick at his left-hand post, with the Australian denied a great opportunity to claim his first Old Firm derby goal.

McGregor eventually hobbled off to be replaced by Neil Alexander, who had to pick the ball out of the back of his net deep into injury-time when McDonald nodded into the path of Vennegoor of Hesselink who sent a header over the line from a few yards. The final whistle sparked scenes of chaos with players' emotions getting the better of them.