RANGERS ended their long wait for victory at Parkhead and laid down a marker of their title intentions with a thrilling Old Firm win.

Goals from Ryan Kent and Nikola Katic, either side of an Odsonne Edouard leveller, won it for Steven Gerrard’s side as they cut Celtic’s advantage to two points at the top of the Premiership.

Ryan Christie saw a first half penalty saved and Alfredo Morelos was dismissed late on as Rangers landed a psychological blow heading into the winter break when both sides will head to Dubai.

Rangers were hard-done by at Hampden as they missed out on Betfred Cup glory but Neil Lennon’s side couldn’t deny Gerrard and his players once again.

Ibrox boss Gerrard would have been pleased with the start Rangers made as they looked comfortable on the ball and combative off it. With Celtic surprisingly subdued, the opening stages gave Rangers increased hope as the minutes ticked on.

James Tavernier fired high over the bar with the first shot of the afternoon before Fraser Forster was tested twice by Morelos. Both low shots were easily held by the keeper.

A poor effort from Christie was all that Lennon’s side could muster before Rangers had another spell of pressure and a couple of corners were cleared. From the last of those, Forster kicked an effort from Davis to safety at his near post.

Christie was again involved as he flicked a Mikey Johnston cross over the bar before he collected a loose ball from Ryan Jack and burst towards goal. He was denied by Connor Goldson just in time for Rangers.

His next chance was his clearest of the lot. Referee Kevin Clancy pointed to spot after ruling that Katic had fouled Christopher Jullien at a corner and Christie stepped up from 12 yards.

His penalty was superbly saved by Allan McGregor as the keeper went to his left and diverted the ball clear. Celtic kept the pressure on, though, and Davis was in the right place at the right time to clear a Jullien header off the line.

There was a sense that the goal was coming and it was Rangers that got it as Kent produced a finish worthy of such a stage. Borna Barisic provided the cross from the left and the strike was outwith the reach of Forster to his right as Kent curled home the opener.

It was no more than Rangers deserved at that stage and Gerrard would have been pleased with the performance of his side as they once again dominated the Old Firm fixture.

The Gers couldn’t get to the break with a lead, though. Another Jack error was picked up on by Callum McGregor and the midfielder drove into shooting range.

His strike took a wicked deflection off Edouard – with strong Rangers appeals for handball dismissed by Clancy – and left McGregor beaten as Celtic grabbed a controversial leveller just four minutes before the break.

It would have been easy for Rangers to be disheartened but Gerrard’s side were again on the front foot once the action restarted and should have netted twice before they moved 2-1 ahead.

A Connor Goldson diagonal found Kent but Morelos couldn’t convert under pressure from Kris Ajer as the winger put a teasing ball across the face of goal.

His next cross fell to Goldson at the back post but a corner was all Rangers got as the defender was denied. It was from that spell of pressure Gerrard’s side scored, though, as Katic powered home a header from a Barisic cross and went to celebrate with the small band of Light Blues in the corner of Parkhead.

Gerrard was quick to remind his players to keep their heads and Rangers had to deal with a spell of pressure as Jullien saw another header cleared off the line and McGregor made a smart stop to deny Boli Bolingoli.

You could feel the tension in the air around Parkhead as the clock ticked down and Rangers had a chance to clinch the win as Morelos broke and slipped in Aribo. He couldn’t test Forster from a tight angle, though, as the opportunity was spurned.

Both bosses turned to their benches with ten minutes remaining. Scott Arfield took over from Glen Kamara, while Christie made way for Leigh Griffiths.

The final stages were frantic as four minutes of injury time were signalled. With seconds to go, Morelos was given a second yellow card for diving.

It kicked off in the technical area and Michael Beale was sent to the stands by Clancy but the final whistle soon sounded.

The Gers burst towards the away crowd and Gerrard joined them with a series of fist pumps before he embraced his players and celebrated a job well done and points deservedly won.