Former Celtic captain Tom Boyd claims the flare-up at the end of the Old Firm derby at Parkhead was always likely following the home side's late winning goal.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink secured a 2-1 victory for Celtic by heading home in the third minute of stoppage time, before Hoops and Rangers players clashed as they left the pitch.

Scotland team-mates David Weir and Gary Caldwell are expected to face suspensions after being hauled into referee Kenny Clark's room afterwards.

Weir is set to miss Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final when Rangers take on St Johnstone, and Caldwell should be absent when Celtic face Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday.

But Boyd, 42, who played for Celtic from 1992 to 2003, stressed he had been involved in derby matches which became far more heated.

"(It was) `handbags'," Boyd said. "I've seen worse in my time in an Old Firm game.

"I think it was just the emotion of a last-minute goal, and a couple of wee things that were probably said at times, and then you've got everyone coming in aggressively to try to push people away.''

Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar faces a certain ban after his red card for handling Shunsuke Nakamura's goalbound strike midway through the second half, when the teams were level.

It almost proved a sacrifice worth making when Scott McDonald missed the penalty, but Celtic's late winner denied Rangers a point, which Boyd felt would have ended the home side's hopes of retaining the SPL title.

Victory moved Celtic just one point behind Rangers, who have two games in hand.

The teams meet again at Parkhead on April 27, and Boyd expects Rangers to employ cautious tactics once again, looking to hit Celtic on the break.

Boyd said: "I certainly hope it's going to be of the same quality.

"I don't think there'll be any change in terms of the tactics. With a minute and a half to go I think Rangers had won the league last night but we saw it all change.

"I think they'll come to Celtic Park and try to play the same way in the next game.''

Boyd, who was speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, hailed the determination of Gordon Strachan's Celtic players for never giving up hope of victory.

The push for maximum points paid off just as Rangers were looking like holding on for a draw.

Boyd said: "I think that was just a case of saying, 'We need this'.

"I think the gaffer would have liked it a little bit earlier, but at that time there's no time for Rangers to come back.''

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