Source: Time Online

Celtic’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League title hopes are firmly back on course after a 3-2 win over Rangers in a pulsating encounter at Parkhead.

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

The winner came courtesy of a second-half penalty from Barry Robson which leaves Celtic five points clear of Rangers, who have three games in hand.

In a typically feisty derby encounter, Steven Whittaker, the Rangers defender, was sent off in injury time for his second bookable offence, a foul on Shunsuke Nakamura.

Rangers, who had appeared to have the title firmly in their grasp until 12 days ago, when they had lost 2-1 at Parkhead to a last-gasp goal by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, got off to the worst possible start, falling 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 was given the benefit of a tight offside decision to drill his shot from 14 yards past Neil Alexander.

Rangers went on the offensive immediately and grabbed a deserved equaliser on 15 minutes when a Steve Davis corner from the left was headed home by Weir.

Play raged from end to end. Alexander made up for a jittery start with a good save from Nakamura’s free-kick from just outside the box which threatened to sneak in at the near post.

Moments later, Rangers winger Nacho Novo robbed Lee Naylor wide on the right but the little Spaniard found no takers with his cut-back from the bye-line.

Rangers grabbed the lead on the half hour 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 Artur 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.

There was little let-up after the interval. McDonald was sent clean through by Nakamura but strangely opted to square the ball to Vennegoor of Hesselink who was robbed by Rangers defender Sasa Papac as he hesitated before getting his shot away.

Weir hobbled off in the 51st minute to be replaced by Amdy Faye, who was to endure a nervy second half.

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, though the former St Mirren player was lucky not to see red.

Robson drove his spot-kick past Alexander to give Celtic back their lead and held out with little alarm, Whittaker collecting his second yellow card for fouling Nakamura on the touchline in the closing stages.