Rangers striker Kenny Miller returned to haunt Socceroo Scott McDonald's Celtic with a double strike against his former club in an incident packed 4-2 win for Rangers which saw two red cards.
McDonald miss the game through injury as Daniel Cousin put his side ahead with a fine solo strike before Georgios Samaras had pounced to make it 1-1 at the interval.
But former Parkhead player Miller, whose first goal as a Celtic striker had been against Rangers, scored either side of a wonderful Pedro Mendes strike to take the visitors into a commanding lead.
The drama was far from over as both sides ended up with 10 men after Cousin and Hoops' substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, on minutes earlier for Georgios, were sent off.
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura fired in an injury time consolation for the home side but there was no doubt that the visitors - and Miller, who has spent all his time trying to win over the Light Blues fans - had the last laugh.
Rangers move up to first in the Premier League, dislodging Kilmarnock who had enjoyed the view from the top after an impressive 2-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.
Midfielder Gavin Skelton capped his first start for the Ayrshire side since signing from Gretna with the opening goal just before the interval after the hosts had dominated the first half.
A fine finish to a good move by Danny Invincibile in the 58th minute doubled the visitors' lead and although United continued to press, Killie resolutely held out for the three points.
Hearts avoided a hangover from their shock Co-operative Insurance Cup exit when they returned to winning ways by beating Hamilton 2-1.
Goals from Marius Zaliukas and Andrew Driver secured the three points and ensured there would be no lingering fallout from Wednesday's epic second-round cup tie against Airdrie.
Accies did hit back through substitute Derek Lyle late on but it was not enough to prevent them slumping to their second successive top-flight reverse.
A John Sutton strike 12 minutes from time was enough to give Motherwell a 1-0 victory in a tight encounter away to Hibernian.
The former St Mirren marksman pounced on David Clarkson's pinpoint pass to turn and drive in a late winner for the UEFA Cup-bound side.
St Mirren paid the price for missed chances and sloppy defending as Darren Mackie's sucker punch earned Aberdeen a 1-0 victory at Love Street.
Billy Mehmet went from saint to sinner following his midweek cup hat-trick against Dumbarton when he missed two glorious chances as Saints dominated the opening half.
Centre-backs Will Haining and John Potter both slipped up to set up Mackie to fire home two minutes before the break.
Inverness substitute Dougie Imrie claimed an 85th-minute winner to send Falkirk to a 2-1 defeat and leave them without a point in the SPL.
Teenager Mark Stewart had given John Hughes' injury-hit side the lead on the hour-mark against the run of play, before Don Cowie drove home a loose ball from a corner eight minutes later.
But former Parkhead player Miller, whose first goal as a Celtic striker had been against Rangers, scored either side of a wonderful Pedro Mendes strike to take the visitors into a commanding lead.
The drama was far from over as both sides ended up with 10 men after Cousin and Hoops' substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, on minutes earlier for Georgios, were sent off.
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura fired in an injury time consolation for the home side but there was no doubt that the visitors - and Miller, who has spent all his time trying to win over the Light Blues fans - had the last laugh.
Rangers move up to first in the Premier League, dislodging Kilmarnock who had enjoyed the view from the top after an impressive 2-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.
Midfielder Gavin Skelton capped his first start for the Ayrshire side since signing from Gretna with the opening goal just before the interval after the hosts had dominated the first half.
A fine finish to a good move by Danny Invincibile in the 58th minute doubled the visitors' lead and although United continued to press, Killie resolutely held out for the three points.
Hearts avoided a hangover from their shock Co-operative Insurance Cup exit when they returned to winning ways by beating Hamilton 2-1.
Goals from Marius Zaliukas and Andrew Driver secured the three points and ensured there would be no lingering fallout from Wednesday's epic second-round cup tie against Airdrie.
Accies did hit back through substitute Derek Lyle late on but it was not enough to prevent them slumping to their second successive top-flight reverse.
A John Sutton strike 12 minutes from time was enough to give Motherwell a 1-0 victory in a tight encounter away to Hibernian.
The former St Mirren marksman pounced on David Clarkson's pinpoint pass to turn and drive in a late winner for the UEFA Cup-bound side.
St Mirren paid the price for missed chances and sloppy defending as Darren Mackie's sucker punch earned Aberdeen a 1-0 victory at Love Street.
Billy Mehmet went from saint to sinner following his midweek cup hat-trick against Dumbarton when he missed two glorious chances as Saints dominated the opening half.
Centre-backs Will Haining and John Potter both slipped up to set up Mackie to fire home two minutes before the break.
Inverness substitute Dougie Imrie claimed an 85th-minute winner to send Falkirk to a 2-1 defeat and leave them without a point in the SPL.
Teenager Mark Stewart had given John Hughes' injury-hit side the lead on the hour-mark against the run of play, before Don Cowie drove home a loose ball from a corner eight minutes later.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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