ERIK BO ANDERSEN was on cloud nine last night as he celebrated a fairytale introduction to the Old Firm derby. Then he was sent back to his sick bed.
The Danish international, dismissed as a misfit by some since a £1.5 million move from Aalborg last February, scored twice in the last 10 minutes to clinch a 3-1 win for Walter Smith's below strength side.
"Right now I'm in heaven," said Bo Anderson. "I am very delighted to make sure we got the victory today.
Rangers manager Walter Smith sent his players home straight to their bed after a flu virus struck Ibrox. "We had Richard Gough and Brian Laudrup out because of flu and it affected others as well - Craig Moore, Andersen, Ally McCoist and Peter Van Vossen.
"I've sent them straight home and there won't be any celebrations because we are playing Hibernian on Saturday which is a tough game. Erik did well. I have said all along that he can score a goal or two, as his record since coming here has suggested."
Even though Celtic are 14 points behind with two games in hand neither Smith nor opposite number Tommy Burns will say the race is over.
"The picture is false because of all the games which have been off," said Smith. "We have beaten Celtic for the third time and if they win their games in hand the difference is eight points. We've dropped more than that to other clubs this season so the motivation is there for us to prevent that."
Burns, who said he had to pull off Alan Stubbs because of a hamstring injury just before Andersen's first goal, said: "We won't throw in the towel, that is for sure.
"We have 19 games to go and we have to try and win them all but that would have been the case if we had won here tonight. I am disappointed for my players because they put so much into it. I can't remember the last time Rangers didn't make a chance but that is what happened tonight.
"I thought we were going to go on and win the game at 1-1 and you can't legislate for a mistake. Those have been happening in football for a 100 years."
First goalscorer Albertz said: "I thought when Celtic equalised that we might lose the game but thankfully Erik Bo came up with two goals."
Man of the match David Robertson said the win showed the depth of the Rangers squad. He said: "It just shows we do not need Laudrup and Goughie - everyone says it's a two man team.
"We needed three points tonight and Celtic made it difficult and it is a bit hard for themselves but there's still 16 games left, there's still a long way to go."
