O'Neill goes for goals

Martin O'Neill's bold selection was certainly designed to get goals today but their hopes were dented as early as the first minute when news filtered through of Rangers' opening goal.

But the players were not aware of events at Ibrox and they should have scored themselves after just two minutes after Alan Mahood had fouled Maloney.

Thompson, who was in tears of Wednesday, drilled a free-kick into the box and Sutton got ahead of his marker but headed just wide of the post from 10 yards.

The Englishman claimed he was being pulled back in the eighth minute by Freddy Dindeleux as he controlled Bobo Balde’s pass and turned to shoot over the crossbar.

But the drama continued to unfold moments later when the Celtic fans celebrated an equaliser for Dunfermline at Ibrox.

Kilmarnock were also not prepared to make up numbers in a championship party and they looked threatening when they ventured upfield.

But O’Neill was forced to make a change in the 14th minute when Maloney hobbled off to be replaced by Lambert.

There was hardly a murmur as Rangers went ahead again but the Celtic fans were on their feet in the 16th minute when their side also took the lead.

Thompson swung in another inviting corner and Sutton timed his run to perfection to head past the despairing Gordon Marshall’s dive from close range.

But the Englishman was booked moments later for dissent before Thompson drove a left-footed shot into the wall.