Rangers 3 – 0 Celtic


Rangers handed Celtic their first defeat of the season with a 3-0 win as Philippe Clement's return to the Old Firm eased the pressure on the struggling Rangers manager.

Hurt by dropping points at St Mirren and Motherwell, Clement's side were fired up to beat their rivals for the first time since May 2023.

They were better from the kick-off and Iannis Hagi fired up the fans when he fired in the opener with just seven minutes on the clock.

Vaclav Černy hit the wall either side of Kyog's offside goal as Rangers continued to dominate. Robin Propper kicked in his second and Danilo came off the bench to seal a comprehensive victory with his first touch.

Some of the gloss was taken off the win when Celtic's Arne Engels was hit by a coin thrown from the crowd.

Ranger's statement about the coin toss

“Rangers FC condemns this incident in the strongest possible terms. “The club can confirm that they will be assisting Police Scotland with their investigation.”

Celtic coin toss statement

“We understand that Police Scotland are currently investigating two separate incidents.

“The repeated targeting of our players and staff with missiles is quite appalling and completely unacceptable.”

Celtic have been far from their best but remain 11 points clear in the Scottish Premiership title race as Clement looks to have won the fans over again, for now.

Hoops humiliate Ibrox

Rangers were without goalkeeper Jack Butland and captain James Tavernier, but started with real intent, with Nedim Bajrami having three shots blocked in quick succession to claim an early lead.

It took just seven minutes for Ibrox to come alive when Hagi collected stand-in captain Raskin and fired a brilliant shot into the corner of the net.

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Rangers took the lead in the Old Firm clash at Ibrox as Iannis Hagi fired home from 25 yards

The hosts were fired up.

Vaclav Cerny almost doubled their lead soon after, his shot deflecting off Liam Scales and hitting the top of the crossbar with Ridvan Yilmaz then forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a save minutes later.

Celtic struggled to string a pass together with Daizen Maeda's shot off target the best it had to offer in the first half hour.

Hagi had a chance to make it 2-0 when Reo Hatate gave the ball away, but this time he dragged the ball wide.

Then Cameron Carter-Vickers came to the rescue with a brilliantly timed sliding move to stop Mohamed Diomand putting Rangers further in front.

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Vaclav Cerny was rejected from joinery for the second time

Jefte left Nicolas Kuhn with a cut nose as half-time approached when he picked up a yellow card. After the free-kick was cleared, Liam Kelly made a brilliant save on his Old Firm debut to keep out Maeda from Paul Bernard's corner.

The captains clashed at the whistle with Raskin showing a yellow, while Callum McGregor, already booked, avoided further punishment.

Celtic looked to get back into the game and Kyogo volleyed brilliantly over Kelly and into the net, but VAR confirmed he was offside.

Rangers recorded their first win against Celtic since May 2023
picture:
Rangers recorded their first win against Celtic since May 2023

Cerny then rattled the woodwork again as his shot crashed off the post before Rodgers made changes with Adam Idaho, Alex Valle and Luke McCowan replacing Kyogo, Greg Taylor and Bernard.

Rangers threatened again.

Schmeichel got down to push Czerny's shot wide, but seconds later they doubled their lead when Proper headed in a diving header after Raskin's header was blocked.

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Robin Propper scored from a corner to double Rangers' lead

The hosts wanted more and Schmeichel parried Yilmaz's long-range shot behind as the Hoops looked shell-shocked.

And they weren't done yet because Danilo came off the bench and swept the third with the first touch of the game.

The fans were in dreamland, but objects were still thrown from the stands onto the pitch late on, and the police were involved in cleaning them up.

Clement led his players to celebrate with the fans as Celtic's players raced down the Ibrox tunnel in disbelief at their poor result.

'The reward they deserve'

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Phillipe Clement highlights the positive effects of Rangers' Old Firm performance which saw them win against Celtic

Rangers boss Philippe Clement told Sky Sports:

“It's a very good feeling because the boys got the reward they deserve. What they didn't get in the last few weeks – in the League Cup final and in the last few games – we shot ourselves in the foot with the goals we conceded.

“Things weren't on our side back then, but you can see that even with injuries and players out, everyone on this team is really working hard to get better and better.

“This is one proof of that and we should continue like that in the next few weeks and months.

“Nico (Raskin) wasn't ready for the captaincy a few months ago. But he is taking steps. The more captains you have, the better.

“This is a very important victory. It gives faith to the fans and everyone who follows Rangers. This new team is being built, there is a lot of potential in it and we will try to make it better. That is my job, and my mission.

'Rangers were better than us'

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admitted Rangers were 'better' than his side and said the result was a reminder to his players to 'keep fighting'

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on Sky Sports:

“I thought the best team won. I thought Rangers were better than us.

“We made too many mistakes. When they get the first goal, it gives the stadium and everyone in the game, and then the second goal, we lose it from a corner and the third goal, obviously, again, we lose the ball.

“We made too many mistakes in the game and Rangers deserved to win it.

“It's not what you want and it's not your game plan to play. I just felt we were slowing the ball down and then we lacked the lead when we didn't have it.

“Too passive, not aggressive enough. Overall, not a very good performance.”

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