By Graeme Macpherson at Ibrox

THE argument most commonly spouted when it comes to discussing the destination of the SPL title is that "it will all come down to the Old Firm games". If only.

Celtic may be the reigning champions but they have yet to find a way to defeat Rangers since the second coming of Walter Smith as manager at the start of the year.

This was Rangers' third successive victory in this fixture but the first to carry any real significance.

So far this season it is dropped points to Hearts, Hibernian and Motherwell that have done the damage to Smith's ambition of regaining the title.

If Rangers could perform with the same levels of passion and determination in every match the SPL trophy would be back at Ibrox before the Easter Eggs have been handed out.

Following a cagey first half - notable only for Nacho Novo's goal - Rangers were thoroughly dominant after the break.

On the back of outstanding individual performances from Alan Hutton and Barry Ferguson, they simply cruised past their oldest rivals.

At times Celtic couldn't get near them. In fact, the only thing the visitors "won" was the yellow card count, racking up nine to Rangers' two.

Ferguson added a second to end any doubt about the destination of the result before a gleeful Novo rammed home a penalty to further underline Rangers' supremacy.

The Spaniard had been a surprise choice in the starting XI, making his first start in the league - in a wide left role - for the first time in two months.

Perhaps less surprisingly the majority of the injury doubts in the build-up, most notably Hutton and Scott Brown, pulled through to start the game.

Fans from both sides had waited almost three months for this fixture to come around and it was predictably combustible from the start.

Scott McDonald, a name once worshipped around these parts following his heroics at the conclusion of the 2004/05 season, was the chief protagonist in the early exchanges.

His acrobatic overhead attempt was tipped wide by Allan McGregor for a corner and, as the throng congregated waiting for the resulting delivery, McDonald lashed out at the goalkeeper with a sly kick.

It was an immediate challenge to Mike McCurry's authority and one the referee met with the curious decision to flash a yellow card at the Australian which led you to belief he had seen the incident but not deemed it worthy of an instant dismissal.

Shunsuke Nakamura, Celtic's answer to Johnny Wilkinson, then earned himself a soft free kick after collapsing at David Weir's feet following the softest of nudges.

It was within the Japanese winger's range but he slipped as he made contact and spooned his shot over the crossbar.

Rangers had looked comfortable without creating much to tax Artur Boruc before forging in front with their first attempt on target just short of the half-hour mark.

The goal owed much to the persistence of Novo and the athleticism of Hutton. The Spaniard started the move shovelling a pass inside to Ferguson who failed initially to spot the overlapping Hutton who was making great strides down the right flank.

As he tried to curtail his run to remain onside, Hutton slipped on the turf - to ironic cheers from the Celtic support - but was somehow able to get back to his feet almost instantaneously to meet Ferguson's belated pass.

From there the defender's delicious cross perfectly bisected Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus allowing the indefatigable Novo space to nod a low header past Boruc for his fourth ever Old Firm strike.

Celtic's response was a vicious bad-tempered tackle by Scott Brown on Sasa Papac that earned the former Hibs man a deserved yellow card.

A hitherto frenetic first-half came to a halt three minutes from the break when Daniel Cousin and McManus collided while challenging for a high ball.

The Rangers striker was soon able to recover but, after a lengthy period of treatment, McManus was unable to continue and had to be removed on a stretcher, replaced by John Kennedy.

That was the last of the talking points of the first half but Celtic could, and probably should, have been level within 30 seconds of the re-start.

Caldwell's long ball forward was only partially cleared by David Weir, falling kindly for Jiri Jarosik 12 yards out.

It seemed certain the Czech would bludgeon a shot past McGregor for an equalising goal but instead rushed his attempt and could only slice it tamely wide.

Opportunity then knocked for Caldwell shortly afterwards following Nakamura's free kick into the penalty box but, although his shot was well-struck and on target, McGregor got down well to parry the attempt.

The next goal action, however, would be at the other end as Rangers doubled their lead. Novo and Hutton again had key roles to play, the Spaniard initially robbing Nakamura to set up the charge into the Celtic half and then "Cafu" Hutton thumping into a challenge with Massimo Donati to set up phase two of the attack after the initial danger had been half-cleared.

Caldwell failed to put any distance into his clearance when the cross eventually came in and, after Lee McCulloch had forced the ball on, Ferguson was in place to poke the ball past Boruc to send Ibrox further into rapture.

It was down to the irrepressible Novo to add further sheen to the scoreline after Adam had weaved into the box and was tripped by the otherwise anonymous Evander Sno.

Novo grabbed the ball first and calmly slotted home the penalty to send Rangers three in front. Not even a late rammy or a McCulloch disallowed goal could take the shine off this performance.

This was Rangers' day.

RANGERS: McGregor; Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac; McCulloch, Ferguson, Thomson, Adam, Novo (Naismith 79); Cousin (Beasley 75)

Subs not used: Carroll, Faye, Whittaker, Lennon, Emslie

Booked: McGregor (88), Hutton (88)

CELTIC: Boruc; O'Dea, McManus (Kennedy 45), Caldwell, Naylor; S Brown, Sno, Donati, Nakamura (McGeady 58); McDonald, Jarosik

Subs not used: M Brown, Riordan, O'Brien, Bjarnson, Cuthbert

Booked: McDonald (5), Donati (25), Brown (31), Kennedy (53); McGeady (60), Jarosik (70), Boruc (88), Naylor (88), O'Dea (89)

Ref: Mike McCurry

Att: 50.428

Key Man

Alan Hutton

His reputation continues to rise and rise. Just shades it from his captain.