SPL: Ugly scenes mar Old Firm draw

Celtic 1, Rangers 1 (full-time)

Rangers had the last laugh in this season’s Scottish Premier League campaign by holding the runaway champions to a draw at Parkhead to deny them the chance of making more history.

Martin O’Neill’s men were looking to win every home game in the campaign for the first time in their 114-year existence.

But despite their current injury crisis the visitors, who denied them hopes of the Treble, had other ideas and should have been even further ahead following Peter Lovenkrands’ early opener.

Celtic, however, did manage to equalise through Alan Thompson as they equalled their points tally of 97 last season.

But the game will be remembered for the ugly scenes in the final minutes as John Hartson, Johan Mjallby and Fernando Ricksen were sent off after a bust-up in the Rangers penalty area.

Mols came on for Flo in the 70th minute before Douglas comfortably saved a long-range shot from Arthur Numan.

The Celtic supporters were soon on their feet again to give Moravcik a standing ovation as Guppy replaced him.

Rangers were literally hanging on late on as Larsson was pulled back by Lorenzo Amoruso and Ross with only the Italian being booked for his crimes.

Celtic continued to press for the winner and Thompson was denied another goal in the 81st minute by Klos and then Amoruso after the Italian had fouled Hartson on the edge of the box.

But the game erupted into ugly scenes with just minutes remaining after Klos had saved Mjallby’s point-blank header.

In the resulting melee both sets of players clashed and Celtic had Hartson and Mjallby sent off along with Rangers’ Ricksen.

Shortly after the referee seemed to end the match early to avoid any further controversy.