Honours even in Old Firm derby

Scott McDonald missed the chance of the game and Artur Boruc pulled off two impressive saves as Celtic and Rangers played out a goalless Old Firm derby at Parkhead.

After 15 minutes of a poor first half which the home side edged, the Australia international failed to connect properly with a cross from Hoops' debutant Willo Flood from just six yards out.

Rangers responded after the break and, as referee Calum Murray irked both benches with some strange decisions, Celtic keeper Boruc saved a deflected header from his own skipper Stephen McManus and blocked a David Weir header from point-blank range.

After what was a fractious encounter, the point each will probably not unduly worry either side as Celtic retain their two-point lead over the Light Blues at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with one Old Firm league game to come.

Most of the attention pre-match had been on 17-year-old John Fleck who became the youngest Ibrox debutant in the Glasgow derby since skipper Barry Ferguson's brother, Derek, played in a 1-1 draw at the same venue in 1984.

His first involvement came in the third minute when his cross from the left after taking a Ferguson pass had Boruc stretching to get a hand to it at the back post before Hoops defender Lee Naylor cleared the danger.

In the 15th minute, Hoops debutant Willo Flood scuttled past Fleck down the right and crossed to McDonald who failed to get enough on his header six yards out and the ball flew wide of the far post.

The Ibrox club almost stole in the lead in the 50th minute when Madjid Bougherra's cross deflected off the head of McManus leaving Boruc to adjust quickly to push the ball behind for a corner.

As the Light Blues took over, substitute Kenny Miller missed a good chance after being cleverly set up by Steven Davis, the former Celtic striker slicing wide from just 10 yards out.

Boruc produced another wonderful reflex save when Weir bulleted in a Pedro Mendes corner. In the 88th minute, after Steven Naismith had bundled Shunsuke Nakamura to the ground 25 yards from goal, McGregor saved at the near post from the Japan international's curled free-kick.