Rangers win second Old Firm match in eight days, closing gap to Celtic

Ryan Naderi's goal secured Rangers a narrow 1-0 victory over Celtic, marking their second win against their rivals in just eight days. This result brings Rangers within two points of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Despite the setback, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill maintained that the team's confidence was not at an all-time low, although the defeat added to their recent struggles following a League Cup exit and a Europa League loss.

The match at Celtic Park saw Rangers take the lead after a rebound from Naderi, who capitalised on a save from Celtic's goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. Celtic had a chance to respond when Kieran Tierney hit the woodwork, but Rangers continued to threaten, with Olwethu Makhanya's volley also ruled out by VAR for handball. Celtic struggled to create clear opportunities, with their first shot on target coming after half-time.

Celtic's performance drew criticism from pundits, who noted a significant disparity between the two teams. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon described Rangers as the superior side in terms of physicality and play. He highlighted that Celtic appeared disjointed and outplayed, particularly in the second half, leaving them with much to ponder ahead of the international break.

O'Neill acknowledged the need for reflection and a potential reset after a challenging week for his team. He pointed out that despite the defeats, Celtic still holds a slight lead in the league. Meanwhile, Rangers manager Derek McInnes expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, stating they deserved the win and managed to keep Celtic at bay throughout the match.

via Sky Sports