Rangers bounce back to stay top

Scottish League:   Rangers' win at Aberdeen was marred by a home fan coming on to the pitch to attack the visiting midfielder Fernando Ricksen, although the invader was apprehended by police before he could cause serious harm.

The second-half incident blighted an entertaining game in which Rangers came back from a goal down to win 3-2.

Rangers were leading 2-1, goals from Ronald de Boer and Mikkel Arteta answering the opener from David Zdrilic, when the man ran on to the pitch. Aberdeen's chief executive, Keith Wyness, later banned him for life.

Michael Mols soon made it 3-1, although Eric Deloumeaux pulled a goal back for the Dons, still without a point, in injury time.

Ricksen was almost certainly targeted because of an incident at Pittodrie three seasons ago, when he kicked the home midfielder Darren Young and then made controversial comments about the incident on his website.

It was a commendable effort by Rangers, nonetheless, after their dismal 1-1 draw at home to FC Copenhagen in midweek, and Alex McLeish's side are the only ones in the Premier League still with maximum points.

Elsewhere Celtic's manager, Martin O'Neill, who last week was told there was no money in the kitty for transfers, sent out a team that bore no resemblance to his strongest, but even so they beat Dundee United at a canter to climb to second, with four points.

If the Irishman was testing the players he will have to work with in light of chairman Brian Quinn's statement, the plan worked.

A 5-0 victory from a side lacking Johan Mjallby, Paul Lambert, John Hartson and Chris Sutton - Rab Douglas and Neil Lennon were on the bench - showed the squad can get by in the Premier League. "Europe, though, is a totally different matter," O'Neill said.

Celtic's 12th-minute opener from Shaun Maloney was followed by efforts from Didier Agathe, Alan Thompson from the spot, Jackie McNamara and, inevitably, Henrik Larsson.

"They outclassed us," said United's manager, Ian McCall.