Rangers and Celtic win on SPL opener

Champions Rangers and arch-rivals Celtic made winning starts to their respective Scottish Premier League campaigns on Saturday.

Rangers overcame a resolute Falkirk side 4-1 to go top of the league on goals difference over Kilmarnock, 3-0 winners over Hamilton, while Celtic won 3-1 away at Aberdeen.

The league flag was unfurled before kick-off at Ibrox and the Rangers fans were soon celebrating again when an unstoppable strike from Lee McCulloch opened the scoring in the 14th minute.

Carl Finnegan soon had the Bairns level but Scotland striker Miller netted either side of half-time and Steven Naismith scored late on to seal the victory.

Rangers go top of the SPL ahead of Kilmarnock and Celtic, who have a crucial Champions League match against Arsenal on Tuesday, with Hibernian the only other winners on the day.

Rangers manager Walter Smith admitted Falkirk had been the better side for long spells of the game.

“In terms of overall consistency of performance it was maybe not our best today,” Smith said.

“We started reasonably well but we were patchy in our possession of the ball.”

Smith, without several first-team regulars due to injury and suspension, was still able to play the prolific partnership of Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller up front while McCulloch occupied a holding midfield role.

The Bairns started brightly but a sensational strike from McCulloch opened the scoring in the 14th minute.

The Scotland international looked like he had let a pass overrun but he won his challenge with Burton O’Brien before picking himself up and unleashing a thunderous, rising shot into the top corner from nearly 30 yards out.

The goal seemed to fire up Falkirk and they were level 10 minutes later after O’Brien broke quickly down the left and his cross was met in the middle by Finnegan who ushered the ball past the helpless McGregor.

Miller restored the Rangers lead in the 34th minute, the Scotland striker sending a header over the out-stretched hands of Robert Olejnik into the roof of the net.

Falkirk continued to pressure Rangers in the second-half but Miller grabbed his second of the game when he danced away from a couple of defenders before calmly slotting past Olejnik in the 73rd minute.

Naismith sealed the win with seven minutes to go. He beat Jackie McNamara to the ball in the box before directing it past the outrushing Olejnik.

Falkirk manager Eddie May thought three of the goals had been avoidable.

“We were playing the best team in Scotland and they will punish you if you show any slackness. They were ruthless when they scored their goals,” May said.

With Tony Mowbray taking charge of his first league match since replacing Gordon Strachan in the close-season, Celtic’s players were keen to show they can win back the title from Rangers and raced into a three-goal lead before half-time.

Aiden McGeady’s double strike and a Scott McDonald goal had the Hoops in control and, although Dons midfielder Sone Aluko pulled one back after the break, there was never any danger of a telling comeback as the visitors got the boost they wanted for the Champions League clash against Arsenal at Parkhead.

“In the first half we played some good football, it could have been five or six,” McGeady said. “It was a disappointment not to score more goals in the first half.”

Mowbray added: “We were frustrated at half time. We should have had one or two more goals.”

A Kevin Kyle double and a Jamie Hamill strike secured the 3-0 win for Kilmarnock over Hamilton.

John Hughes saw new side Hibernian beat St Mirren 2-1 top claim what was only the fourth win in the SPL on the day.