Celtic's thrilling campaign ended in more tears after being pipped to the Bank of Scotland Premier League title by Rangers on goal difference despite a courageous final-day display.

In an amazing day of high drama the Ibrox men became the first side since Dundee to win the title by goal difference since in 1986.

The holders of the trophy bounced back from their UEFA Cup final defeat with a Chris Sutton double, and Alan Thompson penalty and a Stilian Petrov strike.

But cheers were replaced by more tears as Thompson missed a crucial spot kick before hearing Rangers had beaten Dunfermline 6-1 at Ibrox to win with a superior goal difference.

Celtic and manager Martin O'Neill deserve a lot of credit after picking themselves up after the pain at losing to Porto in Seville during the week.

The Northern Irishman produced some major surprises with his team selection which was designed on getting goals.

He dropped goalkeeper Robert Douglas, after his costly error in midweek, and skipper Paul Lambert to the bench while Joos Valgaeren had failed to recover from injury.

O'Neill drafted in former Sunderland defender Stanislav Varga, for his second start of the season, Javier Sanchez Broto and youngster Shaun Maloney.

But their hopes were dented as early as the first minute when news filtered through of Rangers' opening goal.

But the players were not aware of events at Ibrox and they should have scored themselves after just two minutes after Alan Mahood had fouled Maloney.

Thompson, who was in tears of Wednesday, drilled an inviting free-kick into the box and Sutton got ahead of his marker, but headed just from 10 yards out.

The Englishman claimed he was being pulled back in the eighth minute by Frederic Dindeleux as he controlled Bobo Balde's pass and turned to shoot over the crossbar.

But the drama continued to unfold moments later when the Celtic fans celebrated an equaliser for Dunfermline at Ibrox.

Kilmarnock were also not prepared to make up numbers at a championship party and they looked threatening when they ventured up field.

But O'Neill was forced to make a change in the 14th minute when Maloney hobbled off to be replaced by Lambert.

There was hardly a murmur as Rangers went ahead again, but the Celtic fans were on their feet in the 16th minute when they also took the lead.

Thompson swung in another inviting corner and Sutton timed his run to perfection to head past Gordon Marshall's despairing dive from close range.

But the Englishman was booked moments later for dissent before Thompson drove a left-foot shot into the wall.

Balde was looking to make amends for his heartbreaking sending-off in midweek and he should have doubled their lead in the 20th minute.

Lambert swung in an inviting cross to the far post where the giant defender crept up, but was stretching as he headed just past the upright.

Henrik Larsson was also looking to pick himself up despite scoring twice in Seville, but he too should have done better a minute later.

Didier Agathe and Stilian Petrov combined well down the right and the Bulgarian picked out the Swede, who swivelled but could not find the power to beat Marshall.

Larsson was waiting for the cross in the 25th minute, but Petrov delayed and Mahood got back to head over his own crossbar.

It was all quiet again as supporters realised that Rangers had gone 3-1 up, but Celtic kept pressing for goals and the Swede again went close in the 35th minute when he headed Thompson's cross over from nine yards.

Marshall in the Kilmarnock goal looked as edgy as the Hoops fans and he failed to cut out Thompson's cross, but there were none of his team-mates there to pounce.

The Kilmarnock goalkeeper made a big mistake in the 41st minute when he spilt Larsson's stinging shot, but he managed to block Petrov's follow-up effort.

But Sutton doubled Celtic's lead just three minutes before the end when Thompson's cross hit him and fell nicely for him to prod the ball past Marshall from close range.

Varga then missed an absolute sitter from five yards when Thompson's corner was not cleared, but he somehow lofted the ball over the top.

Whether the Celtic players were told the half-time score at Ibrox nobody knows, but they continued to go searching for more goals at the restart.

Agathe sent Sutton away down the right, but not for the first time Mahood got ahead of Larsson to put the ball behind for a corner.

A bit of frustration started to creep into Thompson's game and he was booked for a foul on former Rangers man Gary McSwegan.

But Celtic were awarded a penalty to go a goal ahead of Rangers in he 53rd minute when Shaun Dillon brought down Sutton in the box after a persistent run and Thompson stepped up to fire emphatically past Marshall to send the Hoops fans wild in celebration.

Celtic were threatening to run riot and for the first time the Celtic fans sung in full voice knowing their team were ahead courtesy of just one score on goal difference.

But the players still looked nervous in defence, although Sutton was looking to settle them down when he blazed a right-foot shot over the bar from 25 yards on the hour.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies tried to lift his players again and brought on Paul di Giacomo for the ineffective Kris Boyd moments later.

But Larsson came within inches of making it four in the 62nd minute when he steered Sutton's pass past the advancing Marshall, but watched as it came back off the post.

They paid the price moments later as news of another Rangers goal silenced the travelling contingent again.

But Celtic still pressed again, with Lambert's shot being deflected wide as more bad news arrived from Glasgow.

The champions could have been dead and buried in the 68th minute as the home side at last were were gifted a chance to score.

Referee Kenny Clark awarded a free-kick inside the box after Broto had picked the ball up from Lambert's pass, but the wall stood up to McSwegan's drive and the danger was gone.

But Celtic were given another lifeline in the 80th minute when Marshall brought down Thompson in the box, but he blasted the spot kick high over the bar.

Petrov picked his team-mates off the floor again with eight minutes remaining when he fired past the Kilmarnock goalkeeper from Larsson's inch-perfect through ball.

Marshall saved a volley from substitute Jamie Smith moments later as Celtic again piled on the pressure knowing another goal would tip the title their way again.

Broto kept their dream alive with a great save from substitute McDonald with three minutes left before Sutton headed over in the dying seconds.

But that was in vain as Rangers scored late on to snatch the title from their grasp to leave the courageous men in Hoops once again in floods of tears at the final whistle after finishing what was a thrilling campaign without a single trophy.

Teams

Kilmarnock Marshall, Fowler, Dindeleux, McLaughlin, Dillon, Locke (McDonald 45), Mahood, Fulton (Hay 81), Canero, Boyd (Di Giacomo 60), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Murray.

Booked: Marshall, Mahood, McSwegan, McLaughlin.

Celtic Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Varga, Agathe (Smith 74), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Maloney (Lambert 13), Larsson, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, Crainey.

Booked: Sutton, Thompson, Broto, Lennon, Mjallby.

Goals: Sutton 16, 43, Thompson 54 pen, Petrov 83.

Att: 16,722

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).