GOALKEEPER Andy Goram and the width of a post denied Celtic a famous New Year victory at Parkhead last night and kept Rangers' firm grip on the Scottish championship.

Rangers remain eight points clear at the top of the table, although second-placed Celtic have two games in hand. But Walter Smith's side will be mightily relieved to have left Parkhead with their unbeaten league run stretched to 17 games after almost constant Celtic pressure.

Goram made two superb saves from German Andreas Thorn and deflected Phil O'Donnell's drive onto the post 60 seconds after half-time.

It was a committed derby of five bookings by referee Les Mottram - including one for Paul Gascoigne - but Goram was the star. He chalked up his third clean sheet at Parkhead this season and has now gone more than 10 hours of Scottish League football without conceding a goal.

Gascoigne struck the bar with an 86th minute free-kick but a Rangers winner then would have been rough justice on Celtic, who were without John Hughes and Peter Grant. They were completing three-match bans after two games were postponed. Rangers were unchanged from Saturday's win over Hibernian.

Before kick-off a minute's silence was held for the 66 fans who died after the Old Firm derby at Ibrox 25 years ago. It was largely well-observed by fans of both sides in the 37,000 crowd.

Pierre Van Hoodyonk, bang in form with seven goals in his previous six games, was first to try his luck with a 25-yard shot which Goram held. After Tom Boyd collected a booking for a foul on Brian Laudrup, Goram rescued Rangers after 16 minutes with a top class save.

Thorn beat the Rangers offside trap to move onto a pass from the influential O'Donnell but Goram stuck out a leg to block the striker's shot.

It was indicative of the half that Rangers' only real chance should fall after a Celtic attack. A free-kick by John Collins was blocked by the Rangers wall and Gascoigne's pass released Laudrup but although the Dane outstripped Boyd his shot went wide of Gordon Marshall's goal.

Tosh McKinlay and David Robertson collected bookings before the Rangers left-back was relieved to see play waved on by the referee when the ball seemed to hit him on the arm in the box._

Van Hooydonk seemed to be conducting a running battle with Gordan Petric but he took the role of peace-maker when a fan ran onto the pitch and was heading for Alan McLaren before the Dutchman shepherded him into the arms of stewards.

Goram even had the presence of mind to coolly field one pass back with his chest and boot clear as Celtic bored in on him as the half drew to a close.

Gascoigne couldn't get through the first 45 minutes without a yellow card - collecting it in injury-time for a late, lunging tackle on McKinlay.

Barely 60 seconds after the restart Celtic came even closer as O'Donnell was denied by the woodwork. He went on a superb run at the Rangers defence but his left-foot shot was tipped onto the post by Goram and Van Hooydonk could not turn in the rebound.

The ineffectual Salenko departed after 67 minutes as Rangers brought on Cleland at right-back. The switch came seconds after Goram had again denied Celtic, plunging to his left to somehow keep out a Thorn header which looked netbound.

Van Hooydonk collected the match's fifth booking with seven minutes left for a challenge on Goram.

Then Gascoigne curled a free-kick beyond Marshall but the ball hit the bar and Celtic survived.

The next Old Firm showdown is on St Patrick's Day at Ibrox and if last night's meeting wasn't quite a title decider then that affair may well be.