No Old Frim excuses - Sutton

Celtic striker Chris Sutton insists there are no excuses for the defeat against Rangers which cost them their place at the top of the table.

Sutton had been struggling with a hip injury and missed the game against Hibernian earlier in the week but he was declared fit enough to start the showdown at Ibrox.

His strike partner Henrik Larsson was also unavailable for the midweek trip to Easter Road after picking up a virus but, like Sutton, he took part in the Old Firm derby.

Sutton admits being out of action so soon before a crucial game could have played a factor in the 3-2 defeat but he insists the result has more to do with Celtic not getting the breaks they enjoyed during Martin O’Neill’s first season in charge.

He said: “Henrik had the virus and that might not have helped but we wouldn’t use that as an excuse.

“It was fairly even but maybe we just aren’t getting the breaks that we were getting in the first season I came up when we were winning games that we maybe didn’t deserve to win.

“The first season and last season we beat Rangers fairly regularly. Things aren’t going as well just now but Rangers have been a good team for the two and a half years that I’ve been up here so it’s no surprise to see them doing well but things can change again.”

Sutton set a new record when he scored the fastest Old Firm goal ever – just 19 seconds after the game kicked off.

It was the worst possible start for Rangers but they managed to fight back through goals from Craig Moore, Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols, before John Hartson pulled a goal back.

But Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson admits he feared the worst after Sutton’s early opener.

He joked: “I was meant to be marking him! It was a bit of a shock after 19 seconds but we came back into the game and got the three goals.

“I thought it wasn’t going to be our day when Shota [Arveladze] missed the chance but big Craig Moore came up to score a great header and get us back in the game.

“It was important that we got the three points and went back to the top of the league so we’re delighted with that.

“I don’t think that Celtic are finding it difficult – we’ve just been playing well since Alex McLeish came in as manager. I don’t think it’s down to Celtic.

“It’s only halfway through the season, it’s still early doors, but hopefully we can go on to win the title.”