KENNY Miller returned to haunt Celtic as the first two goals of his second spell at Rangers helped the Ibrox club achieve a comprehensive win in the first Old Firm derby of the season.
Click here to view a slideshow of today's matchThe former Hoops frontman's double took Rangers to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with Daniel Cousin and Pedro Mendes also scoring for the visitors to Parkhead.
Georgios Samaras had cancelled out Cousin's strike to take the teams to the interval level on level terms, but Miller – whose first goal as a Celtic player had been against Rangers – scored either side of a wonderful volley by Pedro Mendes before Shunsuke Nakamura fired in an injury-time consolation. Both sides finished with 10 men, after red cards for Cousin and Celtic substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Rangers enjoyed some passing movements in midfield without really looking like they knew where it could lead while Cousin occasionally troubled the Celtic defence.
However, the home side had the edge and pushed forward looking for the opener, relying mostly on crosses from both sides which the Ibrox rearguard mopped up.
On the half-hour mark, as the Light Blues took a turn of attacking, Cousin lashed a Steven Davis corner well over the bar.
But two minutes later, Rangers veteran defender David Weir almost put Andreas Hinkel's cross in to his own net, the ball flashing off the shoulder of McGregor before the Ibrox keeper collected.
However, in the 36th minute, with no real sign of a breakthrough, Cousin put the visitors ahead with a fine solo goal.
Mendes sent a looping ball up the right-hand side and the Rangers striker raced past Hoops left-back Mark Wilson with some ease, drove in to the box and drilled an angled shot inside Artur Boruc and the post.
But two minutes later Celtic were level when McGeady's cross into the six-yard box came off the Bougherra straight to the feet of Samaras who gleefully knocked it past McGregor.
The frenetic pace continued after the interval with both sides quickly back in to battle mode.
After a promising Rangers attack had broken down, leaving right-back Kirk Broadfoot out of position, Maloney left Bougherra for dead inside the box with a clever turn before curling his shot from 16 yards just past the far post.
But in the 51st minute Rangers forged ahead for the second time through Miller.
After Cousin had been foiled at the edge of the box, the ball fell to Thomson who curled it to the far side of the area.
Miller's volley from 14 yards bounced once before zipping past Boruc at the far post for his first goal since signing from Derby in the summer.
Pandemonium ensued as Miller and most of the Rangers players headed for the corner to celebrate with the Light Blues' fans.
Then, in the 61st minute, there was more drama when Rangers went further ahead with an incredible strike from Mendes.
The Portugal international, unmarked 30 yards from goal, took a Davis corner and unleashed a volley which sped past everyone in the packed penalty area.
The champions looked stunned and manager Gordon Strachan threw on Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson for Samaras and Paul Hartley.
In the 75th minute, Cousin, booked earlier for persistent fouling, was shown another yellow then a red card after clashing with McManus in an aerial battle.
Then Vennegoor of Hesselink was shown a straight red for an apparent kick at Broadfoot.
The excitement was not finished as Boruc fumbled a cross from the right delivered by Broadfoot, allowing Miller the easiest of chances to prod the ball in to the empty net for Rangers' fourth goal.
Wilson drew a fine save from McGregor with a drive from 25 yards before being replaced by Ben Hutchinson, but by then the points and plaudits were destined for Ibrox.
In the first minute of injury-time Nakamura was fouled at the edge of the box by Weir and the Japan international fired in a consolation strike from the free-kick.
CELTIC v RANGERS KEY MOMENTSNine minutes – Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson booked for late tackle on Shunsuke Nakamura.
15 – Stephen McManus booked for throwing the ball at an assistant referee following foul on Daniel Cousin.
22 – Allan McGregor clutches a header from Georgios Samaras following Nakamura's cross. Aiden McGeady shoots two yards wide from long range.
30 – Cousin volleys high and wide from Davis' deep corner.
32 – Davie Weir's diving header forces McGregor into a smart reaction save after Andreas Hinkel's inswinging cross.
37 – GOAL – Cousin shrugs off Mark Wilson on the right flank before cutting inside and slipping the ball inside Artur Boruc's near post from an acute angle. CELTIC 0 RANGERS 1.
39 – GOAL – Samaras slips the ball home from six yards after Weir misses McGeady's cross and Sasa Papac fluffs a clearance. CELTIC 1 RANGERS 1.
41 – Thomson's 20-yard shot is deflected wide by McManus.
50 – Maloney curls just wide of McGregor's far post.
52 – GOAL – Miller volleys down and into the far corner following Thomson's deep cross. CELTIC 1 RANGERS 2.
58 – Cousin booked for using an arm in an aerial challenge with McManus.
62 – GOAL – Davis rolls a corner to Pedro Mendes 25 yards out and the Old Firm debutant drills into the bottom corner. CELTIC 1 RANGERS 3.
63 – Samaras booked for foul on Mendes.
69 – Adam booked for tripping McGeady.
74 – Davis heads off the line after Papac heads on Celtic sub Barry Robson's corner. McGregor booked for time-wasting.
75 – Cousin sent off following second booking for leading with arm during jump with McManus.
76 – Celtic sub Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink shown red card for kicking Kirk Broadfoot, who is booked for his initial challenge.
79 – GOAL – Miller rolls home from six yards after Boruc spills Broadfoot's cross. CELTIC 1 RANGERS 4.
84 – McGregor pushes over Wilson's powerful 20-yard strike.
90 – Boruc saves from Miller at his near post after counter-attack. Davis fires into side net. GOAL – Nakamura curls a 25-yard free-kick through the wall and into the corner. CELTIC 2 RANGERS 4.
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