It was supposed to be the day that Celtic made history - but it will live in the memory for all the wrong reasons.

The champions were looking to end the season with a 100 per cent home record for the first time in their 114-year existence.

But that was soon forgotten at the final whistle as Celtic duo John Hartson and Johan Mjallby were sent off along with Rangers' Fernando Ricksen after a late melee in the Rangers box.

Martin O'Neill's men had somehow pulled themselves level after Peter Lovenkrands' early strike with Alan Thompson scoring to equal last season's record-breaking points tally of 97.

But talk of that milestone was eclipsed by the amazing late scenes.

The atmosphere inside the ground was as electric as one might expect from an Old Firm derby and illustrated just what the two clubs could bring to England if they were given the chance.

The tempo of the game was also typically frantic at the start, but despite their current injury crisis Rangers surprised everyone by taking the lead after just one minute.

Robert Malcolm's free-kick skidded off the head of Tom Boyd and fell to Lovenkrands, whose right-foot shot took a deflection off Mjallby and flew over Robert Douglas into the top corner.

The home side responded by throwing everything forward, but Thompson's goalbound effort from just inside the box was blocked by Andrei Kanchelskis minutes later.

Rangers continued to dominate as Celtic struggled to cope with the pace of the visitors' wide men and Mjallby needed to save them from falling further behind in the seventh minute.

Kanchelskis got away from Stephen Crainey after Russell Latapy's throughball and he crossed for Lovenkrands on the edge of the six-yard box, but the Swede slid in to divert the ball wide.

The visitors should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute with the Danish international again going close.

Kanchelskis threaded the ball through to Lovenkrands inside the box, but with just Douglas to beat he screwed his effort just wide of the upright to let the champions off the hook.

Celtic were put under more pressure than they have been under all season and Ricksen should have done better in the 25th minute when he volleyed Latapy's clever corner wide.

Paul Lambert let his frustrations run away with him four minutes later when he was needlessly booked for a late challenge on Lovenkrands.

Celtic started to lose their way and they almost lost their chances of a result in the 35th minute.

Kanchelskis burst down the right and picked out the unmarked Latapy, who curled a right-foot effort just past the post.

Boyd became the next player booked by referee Kenny Clark after another off-the-ball incident before Moravcik curled a free-kick just over the bar.

But Celtic were on level terms two minutes before the break with Thompson continuing his knack of scoring vital goals.

Moravcik headed Didier Agathe's cross into the danger area and John Hartson squared to Thompson, who coolly side-footed the ball past Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos from close range.

Celtic lost the injured Lambert in the 47th minute through injury, but O'Neill was lucky to have somebody of the quality of Petrov to replace him.

At the start of the second half, Celtic went close when Henrik Larsson's right-foot free-kick looked destined for the top corner, but Klos plucked it out of the air.

Moravcik had a glorious chance to steal the show in the 55th minute when Agathe picked him out on the edge of the six-yard box, but the Slovakian headed over the bar.

McLeish replaced Latapy with Ronald de Boer moments later, but Thompson almost caught everyone by surprise in the 66th minute when his intended cross bounced just wide of the post.

The Celtic supporters were soon on their feet again to give Moravcik a standing ovation as Steve Guppy replaced him, but it was not the Parkhead farewell he was hoping for.

Rangers were literally hanging on late on as Larsson was pulled back by Lorenzo Amoruso and Maurice Ross - only the Italian was booked.

Celtic continued to press for the winner and Thompson was denied another goal in the 81st minute by Klos and then Amoruso after the Italian had fouled Hartson on the edge of the box.

But the game erupted into ugly scenes with just minutes remaining after Klos had saved Mjallby's point-blank header.

In the resulting melee both sets of players clashed and Celtic had Hartson and Mjallby sent off along with Rangers' Ricksen.

It appeared likely that there would be plenty of injury-time - but shortly after Clark appeared to end the match early to avoid any further controversy.

But it was an amazing ending to an Old Firm derby which had very little riding on it.

If that is anything to go by then the Tennent's Scottish Cup final on May 4 between the two side promises to be a match not suitable for the faint-hearted.

Teams

Celtic Douglas, Mjallby, Boyd, Crainey, Agathe, Lambert (Petrov 47), Lennon, Moravcik (Guppy 72), Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Gould, McNamara, Smith.

Sent Off: Mjallby (89), Hartson (89).

Booked: Lambert, Boyd, Thompson.

Goals: Thompson 43.

Rangers Klos, Ross, Malcolm, Amoruso, Numan, Ricksen, Latapy (de Boer 61), Nerlinger, Kanchelskis, Flo (Mols 70), Lovenkrands.

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Dowie, Dodds.

Sent Off: Ricksen (89).

Booked: Amoruso, Kanchelskis.

Goals: Lovenkrands 2.

Att: 59,384

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).