The Dutchman’s long-range effort cancelled out a first-half opener for Celtic by Stilian Petrov.

It took Celtic just 32 seconds to get in a shot, with Stilian Petrov setting Larsson up for an unchallenged long-ranger which fizzed over the bar.

Rangers replied with a similar off-target effort from Konterman after good work on the left from McCann.

Lorenzo Amoruso conceded a corner at the other end but the Italian cleared it at the back post ahead of Balde.

Caniggia forced Stephen Crainey to give away a corner in front of the Celtic fans, but Lovenkrands’ low delivery was easily cleared.

Guppy tripped McCann 30 yards in front of the Celtic goal, but Fernando Ricksen’s shot was charged down with ease.

McCann fouled Lambert near the centre circle, and Ferguson and Neil Lennon were quickly involved.

Crainey’s long free-kick into the box was chested down by Larsson only for his shot on the turn to be blocked.

John Hartson was first to the loose ball and poked the ball past Stefan Klos but a linesman’s flag was raised for offside.

It had been a warning to the home side, nonetheless.

Ponderous play by Tony Vidmar and Amoruso saw the Australian panic in the box and concede a corner. Guppy planted it on to Hartson’s head, but he could only direct it wide.

Caniggia almost lifted the ball into Lovenkrands’ path in the box. But Robert Douglas was off his line quickly to gather.

The Dane won a corner soon and took it himself only to see Douglas pluck it from the air in a crowded six-yard box.

Arthur Numan cut inside from the left to fashion a shooting chance with his unfavoured right foot, but the ball swerved just over.

In the 23rd minute Petrov gave Celtic the lead.

Johan Mjallby’s long ball was deflected towards his own goal by Numan straight to Larsson. The Swede controlled it and pushed it into the path of Petrov, who had timed his run past the last man to perfection.

The Bulgarian, who opened the scoring in the 2-0 win here earlier in the season, poked the ball past Stefan Klos and gleefully watched it bobble over the line.

Ferguson was booked for a foul on Petrov which was not so serious in itself but an accumulation of earlier offences. Balde headed the free-kick wide.

Rangers looked rattled by the setback, and Vidmar looked particularly vulnerable at the back.

Guppy fired a corner in low, and Larsson peeled away from the six-yard box to flick an audacious backheel just over.

Amoruso mistakenly let a long ball go past him, and it needed a Vidmar-Klos combination to stop Larsson stealing in.

Flo had been starved of the ball at the other end and when he did get it on the edge of the box was soon crowded out by hooped shirts.

Rangers were looking ragged and unable to get any passing movements together as Celtic played the counter-attacking game to great effect.

McCann had a roving role in the Rangers midfield in the absence of de Boer but despite some snapping tackles he was finding his task as creative linkman a difficult one.

He received a final warning from referee Hugh Dallas, following a foul on Petrov, that he too was on the brink of a booking.

Numan’s long ball down the inside-left channel gave Flo hope, but again Douglas was off his line smartly to get there first.

Douglas was not so assured when Caniggia crossed from the right and he had to concede a corner, which his colleagues eventually cleared.

Rangers made a change at the break, sending Arveladze on for Caniggia. Lovenkrands cut in from the left but fired his side’s best chance so far well over.

Petrov was hurt by a challenge by Arveladze on the halfway line but he was soon able to continue.

Konterman let fly from long range after clever play from Flo but Crainey was in the way and Celtic were able to relieve the pressure when Konterman fouled Petrov.

Petrov burst through again after Larsson and Hartson combined to set up the chance but this time the flag was raised for offside.

It looked as though Rangers would need to find something out of the ordinary to get back into the match - and Numan duly provided it.

The Dutchman was a long way from goal and near his customary left flank when he decided to let fly. He hit it perfectly and the ball arced round Douglas and into the net.

Numan then set McCann up with a good chance and Douglas could only parry his low shot. Balde half-cleared but Lovenkrands was soon able to fire in another effort only to see it fly over the crossbar.

Klos saved his team in the 66th minute when Mjallby came forward and put Hartson through. The Welshman tried to fire under the goalkeeper’s body but the German was able to parry and Amoruso cleared the loose ball.

Didier Agathe had been quiet but won a corner in the 71st minute. Guppy’s inswinger was met by Hartson at the back post, with Klos exposed, but his knock down was hoofed away by a defender.

Konterman fired wide from distance as both sides began to settle for a face-saving, if not league table-changing, draw.

Lovenkrands used his pace to get past Lambert and into the box down the left but Douglas gathered the cross ahead of Flo.

Then Ferguson thundered in a shot from outside the box that Douglas could only parry before Celtic sent Jackie McNamara on for Guppy with 14 minutes remaining.

Ricksen fired over from the edge of the area from Rangers’ next attack. McCann then cut in from the right but his drive was also too high.

Ferguson almost squeezed a shot from outside the box inside a post but Douglas dived to divert it round for a corner.

Klos saved his side again, this time from Agathe, who had found himself with the ball at his feet and plenty of time in the box only to see the German divert his shot over.

Douglas was required once more in stoppage time to parry an Arveladze header.