Barry Robson's second-half penalty saw Celtic defeat Rangers 3-2 in the last Old Firm derby of the season and go five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Robson kept his nerve 20 minutes from time to score the winner after Scott McDonald's first-half double had been sandwiched by headers from David Weir and Daniel Cousin.

Despite their second defeat at Parkhead in the space of 11 days, Rangers still have their destiny in their hands with six games left to play, three more than their Glasgow rivals.

The hosts made a sensational start as they took the lead in the fourth minute.

Andreas Hinkel's long diagonal ball was flicked on by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Australian McDonald drilled a low shot past the helpless Neil Alexander.

There was more than a hint of offside about the goal but the visitors hit back and took the lead with two set-piece goals from Steven Davis corners.

After 17 minutes, veteran defender Weir jumped above three home defenders to head home the equaliser.

Celtic's zonal marking was exposed once more on 29 when the on-loan midfielder's delivery was flicked on at the near post by Cousin and the header flew past Artur Boruc and into the roof of the net.

But Gordon Strachan's side ensured it was all-square at the interval when just two minutes before the break, Aiden McGeady fed McDonald just inside the penalty area and the striker held off Christian Dailly before seeing his shot clip off the centre back, standing in for the suspended Carlos Cuellar, and loop into the net.

The former Motherwell striker could have had a hat-trick shortly after the break but opted to square for Vennegoor of Hesselink but the Dutchman was too slow and Kirk Broadfoot nipped in to clear.

But Broadfoot was the culprit when he allowed McDonald to get the wrong side of him before hauling him down just inside the penalty area.

Rangers would argue that the initial contact was outside the box but Robson kept his cool and drove the ball low and hard into the net.

The goal came just moments after Nacho Novo had driven marginally wide of the far post following a lovely run and cross from Cousin.

But Walter Smith's side could not create any meaningful chances after going behind and their misery was compounded in injury-time when Steven Whittaker received a second yellow for a wild hack at Shunsuk Nakamura.

Rangers could trail their rivals by eight points with their trip to Hibernian next Sunday coming a day after Celtic's match at Motherwell.

Lee Walker / Eurosport