There were mixed emotions for departing Rangers manager Alex McLeish in his final Old Firm after an entertaining goalless draw with the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions at Parkhead.

McLeish was looking to finish with a flourish and by guiding the side into the Champions League qualifying stages.

But despite second-place Hearts' defeat to Hibernian on Saturday, his men could only narrow the gap on the Edinburgh side to four points - even though their arch-rivals could have been forgiven for lacking motivation having already secured the title trophy.

Gordon Strachan's side were more happy with a share of the spoils, especially having been rocked by Stilian Petrov's transfer request.

The double-winning Celtic manager had no hesitation in starting with Petrov in the final Old Firm game of the season despite the Bulgarian's decision to move on this summer.

The only change to the champions was Shaun Maloney replacing Shunsuke Nakamura.

McLeish made just one change with Gavin Rae coming in for skipper Barry Ferguson,

The "Billy Boys" anthem, the subject of a UEFA probe recently, was given an airing by the Rangers supporters despite both clubs unfurling banners against racism and sectarianism.

The home fans burst into a rendition of "one Stan Petrov" having watched Stephen McManus somehow escape a booking for bringing down Chris Burke after four minutes.

Celtic midfielder Roy Keane seemed to relish the occasion as he crunched into a number of a challenges.

But John Hartson should have brought the home faithful to their feet in the ninth minute.

Maciej Zurawski flicked the ball over the top to the Welshman, who was put under pressure by Julien Rodriguez, but he took his eye off it and missed the chance to test Ronald Waterreus from nine yards out.

The Celtic fans were demanding a penalty in the 16th minute after Maloney had been challenged fairly by Buffel in the area.

The home side continued to pressure and Hartson headed Paul Telfer's cross over the crossbar from eight yards out.

The atmosphere was red hot despite Celtic wrapping up the title at the start of the month and Waterreus pulled off a fine stop, at full length to his right, to deny Maloney from a 23-yard free-kick.

The Dutchman then raced off his line to block Zurawski's goalbound effort.

The goalmouth opportunities dried up the more the game went on but Celtic skipper Neil Lennon was stupidly booked by Craig Thomson in the 40th minute for blatantly booting the ball away in temper.

Scotland's top-scorer Boyd had the ball in the net moments later but was correctly flagged offside, before Burke missed a clear chance to give Rangers the lead in the 47th minute.

Dado Prso burst into the area and pulled the ball across the face of goal into the path of the young winger.

But with McManus and Varga both stranded, Burke sidefooted the ball over from just six yards out.

Rangers definitely looked the more hungry of the two sides after the restart and went close on two other occasions soon after.

First Artur Boruc pulled off a great save to push Prso's header onto the post from Rae's cross.

But the Polish goalkeeper was nowhere as Boyd leapt above the Hoops defence to head Burke's corner over from five yards out.

So much was Rangers' domination after the break that the biggest cheer for the home side came after Sotirios Kyrgiakos had been booked for cutting down Petrov.

Celtic seemed to be let off the hook again on the hour when the linesman dubiously flagged Boyd offside from Thomas Buffel's through-ball.

But worryingly for the home side, Roy Keane, who is two game shorts of guaranteeing himself a championship medal, left the field moments later to be replaced by Nakamura.

That sparked a reaction from the hosts, who went close in the 63rd minute with Waterreus pushing Maloney's long-range effort around the post.

Waterreus saved comfortably from the lively Nakamura before McManus was booked for a foul.

McLeish made a change in the 71st minute with Nacho Novo replacing Boyd before Waterreus easily saved Zurawski's weak effort.

But the game finished goalless - which suited Strachan more than his old pal McLeish.

Teams

Celtic Boruc, Telfer, Varga, McManus, Wilson, Petrov, Lennon,Keane (Nakamura 61), Maloney (McGeady 81), Zurawski,Hartson (Dublin 84).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Pearson, Wallace.

Booked: Lennon, McManus.

Rangers Waterreus, Hutton, Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Smith,Burke (Ashikodi 90), Gavin Rae, Hemdani, Buffel, Prso,Kris Boyd (Novo 70).

Subs Not Used: Klos, Andrews, Alex Rae, Malcolm.

Booked: Kyrgiakos, Novo.

Att: 59,684

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).