The Wales international's goal seals Neil Lennon's side's comeback from 15 points behind to climb above their Glasgow rivals with a festive victory in the fiery derby fixture
Celtic climbed to the summit of the Scottish Premier League as a second half goal from Joe Ledley saw them clinch an Old Firm victory and move above Rangers.
After being 15 points behind their Glasgow rivals at one point this season the Parkhead side now go into 2012 with the advantage at the top of the table.
Celtic started the game at breakneck speed, with Garry Hooper having two chances in the first two minutes, firstly from a Charlie Mulgrew free kick, then as a result of a long throw in from Adam Matthews, but both times the Englishman failed to find the target.
The visitors should have gone ahead with only six minutes on the clock, as Sone Aluko crossed from the right wing to find Lee Wallace at the back post, but the former Hearts full-back was denied as Fraser Forster clawed the effort away.
Neil Lennon’s side had the ball in the net with just over a quarter of an hour gone as Allan McGregor failed to properly deal with a Hooper shot from the edge of the area, but as Georgios Samaras tapped in the rebound he was called offside.
SOURCE: GOAL
Halfway through the first half Rangers had a great chance as Aluko whipped a corner from the left onto the head of Nikica Jelavic, who directed the ball towards goal and Carlos Bocanegra got onto the ball, but could only put it by the post.
Rangers shot stopper McGregor once again failed to deal with a Hooper strike from the edge of the area, as the Celtic frontman turned his marker and powered the ball towards goal, but luckily for the 'keeper, his defence was there to clear.
Both sides continued to play out the remainder of the half at ultra-fast speed, but with both sides having to deal with the elements of hurricane style winds and driving rain, meaning neither team could find the opening to lead going into the half-time break.
Samaras had the first chance of the second half five minutes in, picking up the ball on the left hand side and racing forward, but his cross was cleared by Bocanegra away from danger.
Then, a minute later, the home side took the lead after McGregor had put a James Forrest shot over for a corner, which Mulgrew swung in from the left, with Ledley rising above the Rangers defence to power the ball into the back of the net.
Celtic continued to dominate possession, with Samaras going down the left wing, beating two Rangers defenders before crossing into the box, but none of his team-mates could get on the end of the pass in order to double the lead for the Parkhead side.
Mulgrew was next to have a go for Celtic, as he curled a free-kick from just outside the area towards goal, but McGregor managed to get down well in order to divert the ball out for a corner and save his side from going two behind.
The Parkhead side suffered agony with just over a quarter of an hour left in the game as midfield playmaker Beram Kayal was forced off on a stretcher after a clash with Lee McCulloch, which meant Lennon was forced to bring on South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung.
Celtic continued to press forward and hammer home the advantage they had over their Glasgow rivals, but they couldn’t find a way through, while Rangers were rarely troubling the Celtic goal.
The visitors seemed to be losing their discipline late on, as firstly substitute David Healy brought down Forrest, then Kyle Lafferty fouled Matthews, but on both occasions referee Willie Collum produced a yellow card for the offenders.
Rangers tried for the reminder of the game to get forward and find the equaliser that would keep them at the top of the league, but the Celtic defence stood firm in order to claim the victory and put Lennon’s side to the top of the league.
Celtic 1-0 Rangers - Joe Ledley 52'
1st half highlights (Wallace who hits the post with his header)
Celtic 1-0 Rangers - Match Highlights
