SOCCER/Rangers -1 Celtic - 2: The massed ranks of green and white in the Broomloan Road stand were still bouncing in celebration long after the final whistle here, their raucous taunts chasing crestfallen Rangers supporters out of the ground. There will be no escaping reality today: Celtic, victorious in hostile surroundings, have effectively retained their title.
The psychological damage inflicted on their city rivals by this win, as much as the five-point advantage chiselled out as a result, has deflated this year's championship chase. Celtic were hugely dominant where they might have expected to toil, and the scoreline flatters their hosts. By the end, the home side's ferocity had degenerated into a whimper. There may still be four games to go but hope has been drained from the pursuit.
Martin O'Neill was reluctant to admit as much, though his post-match assessment was still delivered with the cautious optimism of a man about to claim his fourth title in five years in charge.
"You can be within touching distance and that can be a long stretch, but it's in our hands now and we can even afford to make a mistake," he offered. "We deserved to win this game but, if you take your eye off it, you can get done."
Little suggests they will, especially if fears over the state of Craig Bellamy's hamstring are allayed by a scan today. The Welshman inspired this success, tormenting Rangers' ragged back-line before withdrawing early in the second period. The striker retains the lippy attitude but also the pace that recently terrorised the Premiership.
The loanee from Newcastle was a class apart here, and his explosive display was capped with a wonderfully taken goal beyond the half-hour. Collecting Alan Thompson's pass, he sprinted down the left with the ponderous Sotorios Kyrgiakos shadowing him. The Greek might have shepherded the striker to the touchline but instead watched helplessly as Bellamy cut inside and curled a shot deliciously from the edge of the area beyond Ronald Waterreus.
That was his ninth goal since moving from Tyneside in January, the frustrating memories of Old Firm defeat on his debut exorcised in the whipped finish.
Bellamy's goal doubled the visitors' lead, leaving home supporters apoplectic with their own chances visibly ebbing away.
Stilian Petrov, connecting sweetly with Didier Agathe's cross, had put them ahead while Rangers spluttered in the opening exchanges. The plastic cup flung at the Bulgarian as he celebrated - provocatively - in front of the Copland Road stand will surely warrant a Scottish Football Association inquiry, but it reflected the frustration welling up on three sides of the ground.
Rangers were disjointed, their midfield woefully ineffective with Barry Ferguson's influence negligible and Fernando Ricksen eclipsed at his side.
Where Celtic benefited from Bellamy's pace and John Hartson's rugged presence when they launched the ball long, the hosts could only reply with Dado Prso's endeavour and the confidence-shot Novo Nacho. The Spaniard has now gone six league games without a goal.
Without his bite Rangers were gummy. Marvin Andrews headed against the bar at the end of the first half and Agathe belted a Kyrgiakos header from the goalline, but it was only when Steven Thompson muscled into the furious finale that they found reward.
The Scotland striker thrashed in from close range with three minutes to play but his consolation was no consolation at all.
"They were a wee bit cuter than us, a bit more streetwise," said Alex McLeish in defeat.
RANGERS: Waterreus; Ross (Buffel 45), Andrews (Malcolm 83 mins), Kyrgiakos, Ball, Namouchi, Ricksen, Ferguson, Vignal (Thompson 76 mins), Novo, Prso. Subs not used: McGregor, Alex Rae, Burke, McCormack. Booked: Vignal, Novo, Kyrgiakos. Goal: Thompson 88.
CELTIC: Marshall; Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Sutton, Lennon, Thompson, Bellamy (Beattie 48 mins), Hartson, Beattie (Wallace 90 mins). Subs not used: Douglas, Henchoz, Lambert, Maloney, McGeady. Booked: Petrov, Bellamy, Agathe, Hartson. Goals: Petrov 21, Bellamy 34.
Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).
