The final Old Firm derby of the season was poised on a knife-edge at the half-time break at Ibrox.

Martin O'Neill's double-winning side came to Ibrox looking to pile the agony on their Glasgow rivals in the final Old Firm match of the campaign and end their seven-year hoodoo.

It has been a miserable season for the Rangers faithful - but they were hoping to at least salvage some pride as Celtic threaten to end the season with a famous treble.

With comments from both sides of the Glasgow divide during the week this match was going to be anything but meaningless and the temperature inside Ibrox was red hot.

Celtic made two changes from the side which beat Hearts last Sunday with Neil Lennon and Lubo Moravcik coming into the side for Colin Healy and Jackie McNamara.

Rangers, on the other hand, welcomed back Craig Moore, who played no part in his side's 3-0 win at Dundee due to his involvement with Australia and he replaced Scott Wilson.

A full-bloodied tackle between and Paul Lambert and Jorg Albertz after just 20 seconds set the tone for the match.

As expected Rangers started with all guns blazing and Johan Mjallby deflected Rod Wallace's shot over the crossbar after good work from skipper Barry Ferguson.

But the Scotland international was unfortunate to receive a booking in the eighth minute when he went in for a 50-50 challenge with Alan Thompson on the right flank.

The home side, however, looked nervous at the back and moments later they almost paid the price.

Mjallby stretched to hook Lennon's deep free-kick across goal, but Arthur Numan was their to clear the danger for Rangers.

The home side, however, hit back pushing Celtic back and almost took the lead in the 12th minute.

Wallace flicked Albertz corner towards the top corner, but Lambert saved his side to head clear off the goal-line with Robert Douglas desperately struggling.

The visitors were stretched in the 21st minute and they almost paid the price when Ferguson broke forward from his own half and tried an audacious chip which Douglas tipped just wide.

Referee Stuart Dougal, however, gave a goal-kick much to the disgust of the home crowd and manager Dick Advocaat who raced to the touchline from his dug-out in anger.

But Wallace was guilty of squandering a glorious chance for Rangers in the 24th minute.

Albertz played a perfectly-weighted ball into the path of Numan down the left flank, but even with time and space from six yards out former Leeds striker Wallace headed past the upright.

Moments later and Douglas settled his nerves with a comfortable save from Albertz's powerful 30-yard strike.

But Rangers skipper Ferguson was walking a tightrope after his unlucky yellow card and in the 27th minute he escaped a red card after a clumsy late tackle on Lambert, after good work between him and Moravcik.

Tommy Johnson and Neil Lennon got involved in some pushing and shoving with Albertz, but Advocaat and Martin O'Neill took the sting out of the situation with a handshake on the touchline.