SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Celtic 2 Rangers 4:KENNY MILLER returned to haunt Celtic yesterday, scoring twice in his first Old Firm derby since returning to Rangers in a dramatic match that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.
Victory was just the tonic Rangers needed after their disappointing start to the season.
After an embarrassing Champions League exit to Kaunas in the second qualifying round and the subsequent sale of his club's best player, Carlos Cuellar, Walter Smith could have been for forgiven for facing this match with some trepidation.
But the Rangers manager need not have worried. His players were inspired by Pedro Mendes, a player whose €3.7 million arrival from Portsmouth was facilitated by Cuellar's €9.5 million exit, and scored four at Parkhead for the first time since New Year's Day 1994.
Miller, back at his old stamping ground, can now lay claim to a unique double, having broken his duck for Celtic in this very fixture two years ago.
"If that doesn't win the fans over, I don't know what Kenny needs to do," said Smith of the Scotland striker, whose summer return to Rangers prompted some dissent among the club's support.
"We were just pleased to get the goals, no matter who scored them, but it is funny how things like that happen in football."
Miller's latest East End show had been rather upstaged before kick-off by the news that Daniel Cousin would partner him in attack. It proved a masterstroke by Smith, Cousin opening the scoring, although he was later dismissed on a second yellow card. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink made it 10 men apiece moments later by kicking out at Kirk Broadfoot.
Smith described Cousin's second yellow card as "innocuous" but the Gabon forward was guilty at least of poor judgment in jumping into Stephen McManus after already being booked.
"The referee had a good game," added Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, apparently content that the normally placid Vennegoor of Hesselink had been similarly reckless.
Cousin brought a mundane first half to life on 37 minutes, ghosting past Mark Wilson on the Rangers right before shooting low past Artur Boruc at his near post.
The hosts were level within two minutes, though, Georgios Samaras capitalising on Sasa Papac's inability to clear by finishing from close range.
What Strachan described as "some bizarre goals and one excellent strike" followed, but not before Shaun Maloney came within inches of edging Celtic in front. Miller went one better, meeting Kevin Thomson's cross with a sweet angled volley that left Boruc helpless.
Crucially, the creative skills of Mendes came to the fore while those charged with generating guile for Celtic, namely Aiden McGeady and Scott Brown, cut anonymous figures.
Unsurprisingly it was Mendes who produced the brilliance Strachan later lamented. Just after the hour mark the midfielder, who earned a recall for Portugal last week, met a Steven Davis corner first time, thundering in a low shot from 30 yards.
Cousin's final indiscretion arrived 15 minutes from time, though Celtic's hopes of taking advantage were soon dashed by Vennegoor of Hesselink, on as a substitute just five minutes earlier.
Worse was to follow as Boruc dropped a routine Broadfoot cross right at Miller's feet, and the striker needed no second invitation. The muted response of Shunsuke Nakamura as he curled a stoppage-time free-kick home said it all: this was not Celtic's day.
• Guardian News
CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson (Hutchinson 84), Nakamura, Hartley (Robson 72), Scott Brown, McGeady, Maloney, Samaras (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72). Subs not used: Mark Brown, Crosas, Loovens, O'Dea. Sent off: Vennegoor of Hesselink (76). Booked: McManus, Samaras.
RANGERS: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Thomson, Adam (Novo 78), Cousin, Miller. Subs not used: Alexander, Edu, Dailly, Lafferty, Niguez, McMillan. Sent off:Cousin (75). Booked: Thomson, Cousin, Adam, McGregor, Broadfoot.
Referee: D McDonald(Scotland).
