Kenny Miller scored twice as Rangers won the first Old Firm derby of the season against local rivals Celtic at Ibrox.

The Scottish striker put his side into a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes with Celtic’s defence looking shaky.

Aiden McGeady pulled a goal back from the penalty spot but despite dominating possession for large spells of the game the Bhoys couldn’t pull level.

Tony Mowbray – taking part in his first Old Firm derby as manager – handed China captain Zheng Zhi his Celtic debut and welcomed back Glenn Loovens to partner Stephen McManus with left-back Lee Naylor replacing the injured Danny Fox.

Shaun Maloney had an early chance for the visitors when Andrew Little failed to clear a cross from Mark Wilson, however, Allan McGregor made a smart save with his legs to clear the danger.

Walter Smith made four changes as he started his four-game touchline ban and named Miller upfront despite concerns over a hip injury. His gamble paid off immediately though as the former Celtic striker put Rangers into the lead inside eight minutes.

Loovens was beaten to the ball by Kris Boyd and with McManus out of position Miller was free to run through the Celtic defence and place the ball past Artur Boruc.

The game continued at a frantic pace as Celtic looked for a quick response and Weir was lucky not to concede a penalty when he appeared to trip Maloney in the box.

Mowbray’s team had dominated possession since the opening goal, but it was another mistake by Loovens that allowed Miller to score again. The Dutch defender allowed a long ball to bounce on the edge of the Celtic box where Miller was on hand to fire his team into a commanding lead.

Celtic were handed a lifeline when Sasa Papac brought down Zhi on the right of the box. McGregor got a hand to Aiden McGeady’s penalty but failed to stop the ball creeping into the right-hand corner of the net.

The Rangers midfield struggled to maintain possession as half-time approached but Celtic couldn’t create an equalising opportunity with Steven Naismith heading Naylor’s dangerous free-kick clear of danger.

Nacho Novo forced a corner immediately after the restart and David Weir should have done better when he got his head to Steven Smith’s corner and sent the ball high over the bar.

Smith’s side were sharing much more of the possession and Miller almost completed his hat-trick with a shot from the left of the Celtic box which drifted a yard wide.

Scott McDonald had the chance to equalise as the visitors sprung down the other end of the pitch but his shot on the turn was straight at McGregor.

Celtic continued to build momentum as they introduced Georgios Samaras on the hour mark and McGregor got down well to save McGeady’s low 30-yard drive.

Maloney had the best chance to equalise from Wilson’s low cross but failed to find the target as he shot wide from six-yards out.

Rangers began to rally in the last quarter of an hour and looked particularly dangerous on the break with Whittaker curling in an inviting cross from the right which Novo was inches away from reaching at the back post.

Novo had another chance a moment later as he attempted to lift the ball over Boruc, but the Celtic keeper was able to tip the ball over.

Celtic pinned Rangers back in the final minutes of the game but Smith’s team held on to move to within a point of their fiercest rivals at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

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