Lindsay Herron reports from Parkhead

RANGERS will have to dig deep and show some exceptional character and courage to go on and win this SPL after falling to Celtic for the second time in 11 days.

Apart from losing the match to fall five points behind, Davie Weir limped off injured and Stevie Whittaker was sent off in added time for a tired, frustrated challenge which means suspension from next Sunday's match with Hibs.

Rangers now need five wins from their last six matches to win the league but with so many injuries and so many matches it is going to be a huge ask.

The pressure is now on and Walter Smith will need to galvanise his side for the final countdown.

It was Scott McDonald who won the match for Celtic by scoring two goals - the first of which was proven to be offside - and winning a penalty.

Rangers were quite exceptional in the first half given that they had to come back from the hammer blow of losing a goal after only three minutes.

They showed terrific character and belief to not only recover but dominate with some terrific football.

They had started well and forced Artur Boruc into a save inside the first minute.

The Celtic defence did not deal with Steven Davis's corner - and that became a pattern - as Kirk Broadfoot flicked the ball on and Daniel Cousin tried a hook shot which Boruc did well to block.

However, Rangers were stunned when Celtic scored with their first attack in the third minute. It was made harder to bear when TV replays showed Scott McDonald was offside.

Andreas Hinkel played a diagonal ball to the left side of the box, Jan Venegoor of Hesselink headed the ball down and McDonald darted in to fire past Neil Alexander.

Assistant referee Tom Murphy had a good view of the situation but did not raise his flag although it was proved that he should have.

Rangers rallied superbly. Davis miss-hit a right foot from the edge of the box in six minutes when he should have done better then Cousin headed just wide from Sasa Papac's free kick in 12 minutes as they came storming back at Celtic.

And in 16 minutes they got their reward. Stevie Whittaker won a corner on the left side, Davis whipped the ball over and Davie Weir got his head to the ball, sending it past Boruc, who had thought about coming and then changed his mind.

Pressing Celtic at every opportunity, Rangers took control of the match and it was no surprise when they took the lead in 28 minutes - again from a corner.

This time Davis hit the ball to the near post and Cousin flicked a superb header which came off the underside off the bar before finding the net.

At this stage Rangers looked in total control. Apart from playing the better stuff they had also survived a Nakamura free kick in 23 minutes when he tried to find the top right corner but Alexander pushed the ball over.

Celtic, however, made a strong finish to the half and grabbed an equaliser three minutes before the break.

Christian Dailly failed to close down McDonald as he turned in the box and then had the misfortune to deflect the Australian striker's shot over Alexander.

It was rough luck on Rangers and they suffered another major blow six minutes into the second half when goal hero Weir had to hobble off injured.

On came Amdy Faye for his first taste of action since October 28 last year. What a time to make your Old Firm debut.

Three minutes prior to that, Rangers were fortunate not to lose a goal when McDonald was in the clear on the right side of the box. He tried to find Venegoor of Hesselink but Davis got back in the nick of time to clear for a corner.

Celtic then lost their centre back when Stephen McManus had to go and was replaced by Darren O'Dea. It was finely balanced although Rangers were finding themselves hemmed in a little.

Novo might have eased the pressure in the best possible way in 68 minutes when Rangers caught Celtic on the break.

Whittaker fed Cousin down the left, his cross was missed by Ferguson but it fell to Novo who tried to find the left corner with a low drive but missed the target.

It proved to be costly as Celtic were ahead a minute later.

Broadfoot got caught on the wrong side as the ball was played up to McDonald and he brought the Celtic striker down just inside the box for a clear penalty and a yellow card.

Barry Robson took the kick and made no mistake, sending Alexander the wrong way.

Celtic then hit the post in 74 minutes when Nakamura's corner deflected off Davis and it looked difficult for Rangers now.

Darcheville was sent on at the expense of Hemdani as Rangers fought to snatch a point but Rangers never got the chance they were looking for.

To compound the escalating selection problems, Whittaker was sent off in added time for a second yellow card after a tired challenge on Nakamura.

He will now miss next Sunday's match at Easter Road which has now become colossal.