Rangers 3-0 Celtic: Can Philippe Clement’s side build on inflicting Brendan Rodgers’ first Old Firm defeat? | Football News happymamay

Rangers were exhausted but it was a deserved win over a Celtic side who until the start of the match looked unbeatable in the Scottish Premiership.

Philippe Clement ended his Old Firm disappointment with a result he also felt they deserved in last month’s League Cup final, but how much can they capitalize on that going into the second half of the season?

Celtic were rife but had a terrible stop at Ibrox as they failed to show any of the rhythm and desire that propelled them to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

While a title challenge may still be out of reach for Rangers, would this be a result that changes their season? Will Brendan Rodgers recover immediately after his first defeat of the season and second ever in an Old Firm match?

Boyd: Rangers have to back this up

former Rangers attacker Chris Boyd On Sky Sports:

“Away from home, Rangers have not been good enough. Ibrox has not been the problem, European football on Thursday nights has not been the problem. Being away from home has cost Rangers so far this season.

“We’ve seen performances like that but they have to back it up. They’ll be at Easter Road, Dens Park the following week. Those are the games that will tell us more.

“I can enjoy tonight but then I think reality will set in that you’re still 11 points down, but you haven’t taken anything away from Rangers, I thought to a man they were excellent today.

“They asked the players to come in, and we said at the top of the presentation that there might be an opportunity for players who haven’t played to come in and make a claim – I thought Ridvan Yilmaz was excellent, I thought Dogon Sterling and Robben played prober like proper defenders – well, Celtic didn’t ask too much of them. -Gifty was up and down all day.

“Nicolas Raskin was fantastic, Vaclav Cerny and Giannis Hagi had a bit of quality. It’s a good day for Rangers but then you think to yourself where has this team been? We’ve seen it in glimpses.”

Lennon: Celtic hits like a ‘clip around the ear’

former Celtic boss Neil Lennon On Sky Sports:

“The key is whether this is the catalyst for a good second half of the season for Rangers. Let’s get it right, the first half of the season was not good enough. This performance today was excellent from goalkeeper to striker.

“They created a lot of chances and there was a flow to them, but it’s one game. The key now is whether they can go to Easter Road on Sunday and have the same mentality to be consistent to close the gap with Celtic.

“For Celtic, this will be a clip around the ear and they will come back. “There was a bit of apathy in this game but Rangers fans will come away happy with what they saw today.

“From a Celtic point of view, it’s a reset.”

Rangers condemns coin throwing

Celtic substitute Arne Engels was hit by a coin thrown by a Rangers fan at the end of their win at Ibrox.

The club’s record signing appeared to have been hit above the eye as he prepared to take a corner kick, and a police officer immediately collected it for evidence.

A Rangers spokesman said: “Rangers FC condemns this incident in the strongest possible terms.

“The club can confirm that it will assist Police Scotland with their investigations.”