Rangers settle Old Firm score

Rangers celebrate on the road to their 5-1 victory

Rangers 5-1 Celtic

Rangers went a long way to avenging the embarrassment of their 6-2 defeat by Celtic with a resounding victory over their oldest rivals.

Captain Barry Ferguson gave the home side a half-time lead and although Henrik Larsson drew Celtic level, goals by Tore Andre Flo, Ronald de Boer, Lorenzo Amoruso and substitute Michael Mols sealed Rangers' win.

The dismissal of Celtic's Alan Thompson after 65 minutes did little to help the Celtic cause.

But all of Sunday's heroes wore blue, with Amoruso and Ferguson particularly outstanding.

Ferguson slots the ball past Rab Douglas

The game was settled in an explosive second half.

Amoruso and Sutton, who fought out an enthralling battle throughout the match, were finally booked for their troubles early in the second period, joining Reyna, Valgaeren and Thompson in the book.

Larsson then brought Celtic right back into the game with a glancing header having found space betwen Wilson and Amoruso for Thompson's corner.

Almost immediately, Rangers regained the lead - Albertz headed de Boer's corner against the bar, but Flo was on hand to flick the ball into the net.

Red card

The game went beyond the visitors in 65 minutes when Alan Thompson was shown the red card for his second bookable offence - a clattering challenge on Ferguson.

Flo could have got a second with a delicate chip which was well saved by Douglas, but de Boer put Rangers 3-1 up from the resultant corner, rising unchallenged at the back post.

Amoruso capped a fine performance with Rangers' fourth - another header from a corner as Celtic's defence collapsed.

Mols, on for Kenny Miller, marked his Old Firm debut with a goal after fine play by Albertz had released de Boer.

De Boer shows his appreciation of Ferguson

The margin might have been greater - Rangers ought to have been two in front inside the opening four minutes.

Powerful play by Reyna allowed Albertz to release the debutant Flo, but with Douglas advancing to narrow the angle, the Norwegian lifted the ball over the keeper but agonisingly wide of goal.

De Boer was presented with an even more clear-cut opportunity two minutes later after an horrific defensive mix-up between Mjallby and Douglas.

But with the goal gaping, the Dutchman hit his left-foot shot over the crossbar.

Best move

Celtic came into the match after the opening 15 minutes of Rangers pressure, Thompson was off-target with a free kick and Valgaeren blasted wide after a Larsson lay-off.

The visitors' best move came in 24 minutes when Agathe left Numan for dead and when Larsson released Sutton, it required a good challenge by Amoruso to cut out the danger.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, the home team took the lead with a move of devastating precision.

Tore Andre Flo made a scoring debut

Starting on the left, the ball was played across field to Reyna and the Amercian released his pass to the onrushing Ferguson at exactly the right moment.

The Rangers captain kept his head to calmly slide the ball past the stranded Douglas.

Minutes later, Sutton had loud claims for a penalty waved away as Ferguson raised his hands to protect himself from a fierce Petrov shot.

Rangers had a good opportunity to double their lead in 40 minutes when Albertz broke clear on the left.

His cutback was intercepted by Boyd, but Douglas had to get down sharply to prevent the ball ending up in the back of the net.

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Teams

Rangers: Klos, Reyna, Konterman, Wilson, Amoruso, Numan, de Boer, Ferguson, Albertz, Miller, Flo.

Subs: Mols, Tugay, McCann, Ross, Christiansen.

Celtic: Douglas, Agathe, Boyd, Valgaeren, Mjallby, Petta, Petrov, Thompson, Moravcik, Larsson, Sutton.

Subs: Mahe, McNamara, Johnson, Healy, Gould.

Referee: Kenny Clark