KENNY Miller ended his much-publicised goal drought to help Celtic to a 2-0 win over former club Rangers in the Scottish Premierleague.

Thomas Gravesen's first goal for the champions had given the home side a narrow interval lead before the Scotland striker, who had failed to score since arriving from Wolves in the summer, sealed the victory in the 73rd minute when he slid Aiden McGeady's pass under goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Celtic's lead over Rangers at the top of the table was extended to seven points and the pressure now mounts on Ibrox boss Paul Le Guen, who is no nearer to convincing supporters that he is the man for the job.

Despite the lunchtime kickoff at Celtic Park there was still the usual tension surrounding the Old Firm fixture and, with the backing of the home support, it was the Hoops who were immediately on the ascendancy.

In the eighth minute, Miller sprinted onto a long clearance from defender Lee Naylor but, under pressure from Sasa Papac, he lobbed the ball yards over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

However, that initial supremacy was short-lived.

Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam responded by sending a snap-shot from distance over the bar and moments later Celtic defender Stephen McManus had to be sharp to foil Kris Boyd as the striker bore down on goal.

Celtic regained the initiative soon after as Shunsuke Nakamura drew a good save from McGregor when Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson lost possession to the Japanese midfielder in his own penalty area.

The Parkhead men were still slightly the better side in an enthralling encounter but unforced errors and slackness in defensive positions were worrying the home fans. Such anxiety was almost allayed in the 25th minute when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's volley from 30 yards was well saved by McGregor, who was having a splendid game in the Rangers goal.

At the other end, as the pace of the game dipped slightly, Boyd looked too reticent challenging for Adam's free kick from the left and headed harmlessly over the bar from six yards out.

Rangers were to pay as, in the 34th minute, the home side's slight dominance paid off.

Neil Lennon's cross from the right was met by McGeady eight yards from goal and, although McGregor again made a fabulous save from the midfielder's header, Gravesen had the easiest of tasks nodding in his first goal for the Parkhead club from close range.

The Ibrox side rallied towards the interval but McGeady almost made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when his curling effort from 30 yards clipped the bar.

Neither manager made changes at the break and when play resumed the visitors looked more positive. It was still Celtic that made the first meaningful foray forward as in the 50th minute Nakamura almost doubled the Hoops' lead when he shaved the post with a powerful drive from 25 yards out.

In a promising Rangers counter-attack, striker Dado Prso played in Ferguson but the pass was too strong, allowing Celtic keeper Artur Boruc to race from his line and clear. A driving run by the tireless Prso on the hour led to a foul by McManus at the edge of the Celtic area but a good opportunity was squandered when Ferguson struck a poor shot against the wall and the rebound was sent well wide by Rangers defender Steven Smith.

Moments later Boyd flashed a shot high over from 20 yards, and Le Guen immediately replaced Chris Burke with Lee Martin to add to the earlier substitution of Libor Sionko for Alan Hutton.

It didn't have the desired effect though as in the 73rd minute the home side made sure of the points when Miller dramatically broke his duck.

McGeady put him in at the edge of the visitors' penalty area with a clever reverse pass and Miller slipped the ball under McGregor before peeling away to celebrate with the jubilant Hoops fans.

Rangers almost grabbed a goal back when Prso's header was cleared off the line by Naylor and then in the 81st minute Boyd's shot from 16 yards clipped the bar, but Celtic held on to keep a clean sheet and claim first blood in the Old Firm this season.