The new year has brought fresh hope to Celtic's Scottish League championship challenge after this emphatic victory today.

Goals from Craig Burley and Paul Lambert delivered the victory they crave more than most.

It was Celtic's first league victory in league 11 games against their Old Firm rivals but more importantly for those sporting the green and white it puts them on the shoulders of leaders Rangers, one point adrift of the top, and level with Hearts.

Those magnificent strikes from new recruits Burley and Lambert gave them a victory that was fully deserved with only the agility and reflexes of keeper Andy Goram preventing Celtic taking a stranglehold early on.

Rangers were able to call on all their heavy artillery for this third Old Firm match of the season with Goram and Richard Gough returning after two match absences because of hamstring injuries.

Jonas Thern was also recalled after being distracted by family matters while Paul Gascoigne, Gordon Durie and Rino Gattuso were back after suspension.

However Gascoigne had to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench and was only recalled after Burley's opening goal.

Harald Brattbakk made his first start for Celtic following his £2million move from Rosenborg two months ago.

Brattbakk did not look at all overawed by the occasion after stepping out of Norwegian football and was left cursing his luck in the first half.

He broke clear after being released by Morten Wieghorst in the 28th minute only to see his shot beaten away by Goram.

Then the Scotland keeper showed superb positioning 10 minutes later to push away another effort from the Norwegian after a superb cross from Tommy Boyd.

Brattbakk was denied for a third time by Goram 16 minutes into the second half when he again got a hand to another fierce shot.

Jackie McNamara latched on to the rebound, only for Alex Clelland to clear at the far post.

Celtic eventually made the breakthrough with Lambert steering the ball through to McNamara.

He delivered a delightful reverse pass inside the penalty area and Burley got on the end of it to steer a precise shot beyond Goram and into the corner.

Rangers manager Walter Smith, making his last league appearance at Parkhead as he retires in the summer, brought Gascoigne on immediately after the goal.

However Celtic continued to dominate and Goram somehow got a hand to a superb effort from sub Darren Jackson.

The ball eventually broke to Lambert 25 yards out and he hit an unstoppable shot beyond the Rangers No 1.

That set the Celtic supporters off into a chorus of "a happy new year" as they took the game by the scruff of the neck.

Rangers' best chances came early in the game when Marco Negri knocked the ball down to Gattuso on the edge of the area but he dragged his shot wide.

Gattuso remained busy and lively but was again off target in the second half after another knock down from Negri.

Rangers never found their rhythm with Brian Laudrup being well shackled by Enrico Annoni and they had no-one able to unlock the Celtic defence.

The result was a marvellous boost for head coach Wim Jansen, in his first season at the club.

He has already seen his team lift the Coca-Cola Cup and now they are firmly on course to deny Rangers a record 10th successive title.

Teams

Celtic: Gould, Boyd, Annoni, McNamara, Rieper, Stubbs, Larsson, Burley, Brattbakk (Jackson 84), Lambert, Wieghorst.

Subs Not Used: Donnelly, Hannah.

Booked: Lambert, Boyd.

Goals: Burley 66, Lambert 85. Rangers: Goram, McCall, Cleland, Gough, Porrini, Albertz (Gascoigne 71), Thern, Ferguson, Negri, Gattuso (Durie 59), Laudrup.

Subs Not Used: Snelders.

Booked: McCall, Negri, Gough.

Att: 49,350

Ref: H Dallas (Motherwell).