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Saturday, 5 May 2007, 13:25 GMT 14:25 UK

Rangers 2-0 Celtic

By Thomas McGuigan

Kris Boyd fires Rangers in front Rangers cruised to a deserved victory against a toothless Celtic in the final Old Firm derby of the season.

Kris Boyd gave Rangers the lead in the 34th minute, when he volleyed home his first Old Firm goal from just inside the box from Nacho Novo's lofted pass.

Celtic were unable to provide support for lone striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and rarely troubled goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Charlie Adam's clever free-kick sealed Gers' second successive Old Firm win.

Rangers manager Walter Smith named an unchanged side for the game.

Youngsters Scott Gallacher, Paul Emslie and Andrew Shinnie were named on the bench, while Dado Prso failed to recover from tonsillitis.

Celtic made changes to the side beaten 3-1 by Hearts last Sunday.

Thomas Gravesen and Gary Caldwell were restored to the first team at the expense of Jiri Jarosik and Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe respectively.

The home side started brightly, with captain Barry Ferguson linking up well with Novo.

The Spaniard got the first shot in target on 13 minutes, but his weak effort was comfortably held by Artur Boruc.

Adam spurned a great chance in 30 minutes when his volley from the edge of the box trundled into Boruc's arms.

Boyd gave Rangers the lead in 34 minutes when he volleyed home Novo's pass for his 100th SPL goal.

Brahim Hemdani and Celtic's Paul Hartley

Celtic were lifeless in attack and failed to get Shunsuke Nakamura or Aiden McGeady into the game.

Novo almost doubled Rangers' lead when he collected Thomson's pass, but fired just wide.

Celtic introduced striker Kenny Miller for the second half, withdrawing the ineffective Thomas Gravesen.

Nakamura spurned a great chance to equalise in 52 minutes when he collected Vennegoor of Hesselink's pass, but his shot was parried by McGregor.

Adam doubled the home side's lead in the 55th minute when his 20-yard free kick went under the Celtic wall and into the corner of the net past the stranded Boruc.

Rangers substitute Fillip Sebo went close to making it three in 66 minutes, when he neatly side-stepped Stephen McManus and forced Boruc into a superb save.

From the resulting corner, Alan Hutton's volley was saved by Boruc as Celtic's defence looked in danger of crumbling under the onslaught.

Celtic captain Neil Lennon picked up a late booking in his last Old Firm game to compound a miserable day for the SPL champions.

The win clinched second spot in the SPL for Walter Smith's side and a Champions League qualification place for next season.


Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Weir, Ehiogu, Papac, Ferguson, Hemdani, Thomson (Burke 79), Novo, Boyd (Sebo 64), Adam. Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Rae, Svensson, Emslie, Shinnie.

Booked: Hutton.

Goals: Boyd 34, Adam 55.

Celtic: Boruc, Caldwell (Perrier Doumbe 70), Pressley, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Gravesen (Miller 46), Lennon, Hartley, McGeady (Riordan 79), Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs Not Used: Brown, O'Dea, Bjarnason, Jarosik.

Booked: Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Lennon, Miller.

Att: 50,384

Ref: C Thomson




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Related to this story:

Smith praise after Old Firm win (05 May 07 |  Rangers )
Strachan rues Celtic's form slump (05 May 07 |  Celtic )

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