Smith admits Rangers fortunate with Old Firm draw

Rangers retained their seven-point lead in the Scottish Premier League after scoring late-on to draw 1-1 with Celtic at Parkhead.

Substitute Scott McDonald headed Celtic into a deserved lead after 79 minutes, but two minutes later Lee McCulloch made Rangers first chance of the game count to equalise.

Gers keeper Allan McGregor prevented Celtic retaking the lead after 84 minutes, turning a curling 20-yard drive from Samaras brilliantly over the crossbar with his outstretched hand.

Earlier Marc-Antoine Fortune had a goal controversially disallowed for a foul on the Hoops stopper.

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray: "We played on the front foot. We pushed them back.

"I think we felt we had done enough to come away with three points.

"I thought the referee had a good game. He obviously saw a free kick against Fortune and gave it. You have to abide by the decisions.

"I am trying to build a team not just to win the league this season but for the next four or five years and hopefully our brand of football will do that in the long run."

Rangers counterpart Walter Smith: "We were very fortunate to get a draw. Celtic started the better side.

"Celtic played very well. It was a tough afternoon for a lot of our boys.

"I felt the second half we did a little bit better.

"We are delighted to have got a point from a game we should not have. We were not with the pace of the game at all."