Flo helps Rangers crush Celtic 5-1

Tore Andre Flo scored on his debut as the record signing for Glasgow Rangers to help win the Old Firm game and keep the Scottish champions on the fringes of the title race.

Celtic's lead was cut over Rangers to 12 points but they still lead at the top of the SPL by five points and new signing Flo restored the Ibrox club into the lead against Celtic's ten men.

Henrik Larsson had scored Celtic's equaliser in the 67th minute when he headed in a corner but three minutes later Flo was at the far post after a header by Jorg Albertz from a corner.

The £12.5 million signing for Chelsea on Thursday stabbed the ball over the goal line from inches out after Albertz' header hit the bar and fell into the goalmouth.

Flo scored on his debuts for Brann Bergen and Chelsea but both those clubs failed to win in those matches.

Ronald De Boer sealed the win four minutes later to seal the win as tempers frayed after Alan Thompson was red carded for his second booking only seconds before De Boer scored with a header. Thompson was sent off on his debut in the Glasgow derby as Celtic lost their second match of the season and suffered their first reverse in the SPL this season.

The defeat prevented Celtic from matching a 33 year record set by Jock Stein's Celtic for an unbeaten run.

Ronald De Boer missed an open goal in only the third minute when he shot over after a mistake by Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas.

After ninety seconds Flo had driven wide when clear through on goal but Celtic improved as the half went on until they were undone by a through pass from Claudio Reyna to Barry Ferguson.

Ferguson went round Johan Mjallby to hit the corner of the net with a low shot.

By the end of the game Celtic had collapsed as Rangers gained revenge for their 6-2 defeat at the end of August.

The SPL leaders were unable to defend set pieces and Lorenzo Amoruso scored with a free header in the 77th minute.

Michael Mols added a fifth when De Boer knocked a simple pass inside to defeat the Celtic defence and the Dutch striker eased the ball wide of Douglas and into the net to set the Rangers bench dancing onto the field in a game of real tribal ritual.

Rangers have a game in hand over Celtic and their next match in the SPL is against Hearts in seven days.

Celtic must go and win at second place Hibs on Wenesday night and will also play on Saturday while Rangers have the week taken up by a UEFA Cup tie against Kaiserslautern.