Nacho man sinks Bhoys

Nacho Novo scored twice as Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox in the first Old Firm clash of the SPL season.

Rangers brush aside rivals at Ibrox

Nacho Novo scored twice as Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox in the first Old Firm clash of the SPL season.

Rangers, who are now level with The Bhoys on 22 points, opened the scoring when Novo nodded home on 28 minutes after a mistake by Darren O'Dea.

Celtic game out all guns blazing after half-time, but Barry Ferguson's clinical first-time finish just before the hour mark crushed their spirit.

Novo added the icing on the cake late on when he added his second of the game from the penalty spot after Evander Sno brought down Charlie Adam.

The win continues Walter Smith's superb record against Celtic, making it three wins out of three since his return to the club as manager.

The first chance of the match fell to Celtic when Scott McDonald, in the lone striker role, tried his luck with an audacious overhead kick which McGregor tipped just wide.

Then, in keeping with the highly-charged atmosphere surrounding these fixtures, a melee involving players from both sides broke out in the goalmouth at the resultant corner but referee Mike McCurry brandished just one yellow card, to McDonald, with five minutes gone.

At the other end, Charlie Adam exchanged a one-two with Novo before charging towards goal but he was crowded out by Caldwell and the chance was lost.

Rangers then found themselves under pressure when David Weir fouled Shunsuke Nakamura just outside the box and the Japan international stepped up for the free-kick. Despite carving out a reputation as a deadball specialist, Nakamura blasted well over the crossbar to the jeers of the home crowd.

McDonald then drew a decent save from McGregor with a snapshot from the right flank, as Celtic pressed for the opener.

Massimo Donati followed McDonald into the referee's book for hacking down Alan Hutton after 25 minutes before Rangers surged into the lead two minutes later.

Opener

This time there was no-one to stop Hutton's blistering run down the right and the full-back's cross was met by Novo, who burst into the box and sent a diving header past Artur Boruc from six yards.

Brown became the third Celtic player to be cautioned for a challenge on Sasa Papac, before McGregor was again called into action to tip a thunderous 35-yard drive from Jiri Jarosik just over.

Celtic were out of the traps quickly after the break, Jarosik firing just wide before Caldwell tested McGregor with a decent effort. Instead, it was Rangers who found the back of the net again with 56 minutes gone.

Lee McCulloch's shot was blocked by Darren O'Dea but the rebound broke to Ferguson and the Rangers skipper gleefully rifled home from 12 yards.

The yellow cards were stacking up for Celtic and Jarosik took the crime count to six when he was cautioned for a foul on Weir.

Squandered

Donati then squandered a great chance to haul Celtic back into the game with a bullet header, which looked to have McGregor beaten, but sneaked past the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

However, there was to be no way back for the Hoops when Evander Sno tripped Adam in the box and Novo lashed home his second of the day from the penalty spot after 78 minutes.

The match then ended the way it had started with a scrap involving several players from both sides, ensuring a fiery climax to this most explosive of fixtures as McGregor, Hutton, Boruc, Lee Naylor and O'Dea all went into the referee's book.