Rangers deny Celtic in Old Firm draw

Clint Hill's late goal rescued a point for Rangers in the Old Firm derby and ended a 22-match winning run for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers, with under-20s coach Graeme Murty in charge as new manager Pedro Caixinha watched on from the stands, started brightly but it was Celtic who took a 35th minute lead through Stuart Armstrong.

With time running out, veteran defender Hill popped up in the 88th minute to grab an equaliser as Celtic dropped points for the first time since 18 September last year when they were held to a 2-2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Celtic, however, remain unbeaten in 35 domestic matches and still hold a 25 point advantage over Aberdeen, who are eight clear of Rangers in the race for second place.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt his side were denied a chance to win it late on.

"We obviously should have had a penalty right at the death, it was a clear cut penalty," Rodgers said of a late challenge by Hill on Leigh Griffiths.

"But I am proud of the team today. It was a tough game."

Rangers interim manager Murty was pleased with the spirit shown by his players.

"I thought the players showed a degree of tenacity and grit that they have been questioned about and challenged about for a long time," Murty said.

"They stood up in a difficult environment and managed to get something from the game and I thought without two outstanding saves from Craig Gordon they could have had more."

The Rangers players looked eager to impress their new on-watching manager and pegged Celtic back in the opening 25 minutes.

Martyn Waghorn picked up a yellow card for a nasty challenge on Nir Bitton but worse was to come for the Rangers striker as he blew a golden chance to fire his side in front .

Kenny Miller's headed knock-on sent the Englishman clean through on goal but Craig Gordon showed why Celtic handed him a new three-year contract during the week as he blocked the effort with his out-stretched foot.

Celtic came closer moments later when Armstrong's 20-yard free-kick was turned on to the post by Wes Foderingham with the keeper also tipping a fierce strike from Kieran Tierney round the post.

Armstrong then won possession from Jason Holt and fed Mikel Lustig down the right before collecting the return pass and lashing a shot beyond the keeper from the edge of the box.

The Rangers keeper had to be alert at the start of the second half to tip away a fierce angled strike from Armstrong after the midfielder had been played in by a clever reverse pass from Scott Sinclair.

Celtic were well on top but a quick breakaway presented Rangers with a chance to equalise as Miller delivered the ball into the box from the left with Waghorn's effort on the turn stopped by the feet of the advancing Gordon.

Dembele, who had scored in the previous three meetings of the sides, came close to adding to his tally of five Old Firm goals when he hit the post with a shot across goal.

Rangers threw men forward and it saw them claim an 88th minute equaliser. Emerson Hyndman's shot was kept out by Gordon but the loose ball fell to 38-year-old Hill who made no mistake from close range.

Celtic were furious when Hill then appeared to bring Griffiths down in the box but the referee waved play on before the defender then headed a shot from the Scotland striker off the line as they denied the Hoops a fourth straight Old Firm win this season.