Derek McInnes described Rangers’ 3-0 victory over Celtic as a performance in which there was “no failure” as the Ibrox side produced a commanding Old Firm display to reach the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup.
Rangers entered the quarter-final knowing the occasion demanded more than an ordinary domestic performance. Their reward for delivering was a convincing victory over their Glasgow rivals, with captain Dan Neil scoring twice and Kevin Kelsy adding another on his Old Firm debut.
For McInnes, the result represented his first victory over Celtic since taking charge of Rangers and provided a significant moment for a team continuing to establish its identity under the manager.
The result was particularly impressive because Rangers did not simply edge Celtic in a closely fought derby. They controlled significant portions of the match, pressed aggressively and prevented the visitors from creating the kind of clear opportunities that could have changed the contest.
McInnes later praised the collective effort of his players and supporters, insisting that everyone connected with the club had played a part.
It was a performance built around intensity, organisation and a willingness to work for each other.
A Fast Start Sets the Tone
Rangers approached the match with an obvious sense of purpose. From the opening whistle, McInnes‘ players attempted to prevent Celtic from settling into possession.
Rather than sitting deep and allowing their opponents to dictate the tempo, Rangers pressed forward and tried to engage Celtic’s attackers and midfielders across the pitch.
That approach immediately created opportunities.
Kevin Kelsy and Minsu Kim both had promising chances during the opening stages, although neither could find the finishing touch required to open the scoring.
Those early opportunities were nevertheless significant.
They demonstrated that Rangers were prepared to take risks in their attacking approach while also showing Celtic that the home side intended to play on the front foot.
The Ibrox crowd responded to the intensity.
Every successful challenge and attacking move increased the pressure on the visitors.
McInnes had spoken before the match about the importance of bringing the supporters into the game, and his players did exactly that.
Dan Neil Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute. Dan Neil produced a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area after Rangers created space through a combination involving Ryan Naderi and Kelsy.
The Rangers captain kept his composure and placed the ball into the bottom corner.
It was an excellent finish, but the goal also reflected the structure behind Rangers’ attacking approach.
The home side had moved the ball quickly, created movement around Celtic’s defensive shape and eventually found Neil in a position where he could shoot.
The goal transformed the atmosphere.
Rangers had already looked confident.
Now they had the advantage to match their performance.
Celtic needed to respond, but Rangers continued to make it difficult for them to build attacks.
The opening goal therefore became more than an isolated moment.
It reinforced the belief that the home side’s tactical plan was working.
McInnes Gets the Pressing Structure Right
One of the defining features of Rangers’ performance was their aggressive pressing system.
McInnes made an important tactical adjustment by using James Penrice in an auxiliary midfield role.
That allowed Rangers to overload the central areas and create situations in which Celtic’s players were confronted quickly after receiving the ball.
Djeidi Gassama and Minsu Kim provided width and energy, while the Rangers defensive unit remained prepared to defend Celtic’s front three.
The system required considerable discipline.
If one player pressed without support, Celtic could have exploited the space.
Instead, Rangers generally moved as a unit.
The pressure made Celtic uncomfortable and reduced the amount of time Callum McGregor and his midfield teammates had to influence proceedings.
It was one of the reasons Rangers were able to dictate the rhythm for such long periods.
Celtic Struggle to Find an Answer
Celtic entered the match with an unbeaten domestic record and considerable confidence.
But they found it extremely difficult to reproduce their best football at Ibrox.
The visitors struggled to create clear chances, particularly during the first half.
Rangers’ pressing prevented Celtic from building patiently from defence, while the home side’s midfield pressure disrupted passing lanes.
When Celtic did manage to escape the first wave of pressure, Rangers’ defensive players were ready to compete for the next ball.
That combination of pressing and defensive aggression meant Celtic rarely enjoyed extended periods of control.
The absence of away supporters also created an unusual atmosphere.
Only Rangers fans were present inside Ibrox for the match, meaning Celtic had no travelling support to lift them during difficult moments.
The home crowd instead became increasingly influential as Rangers continued to dominate.
Kelsy Doubles the Advantage
Rangers eventually turned their pressure into a second goal.
Kevin Kelsy scored in the 59th minute, marking his Old Firm debut with a goal that gave Rangers a 2-0 lead.
The striker’s arrival at Rangers had generated considerable attention, and scoring against Celtic in his first appearance in the fixture was an immediate way to establish himself with the supporters.
His goal also placed Celtic under severe pressure.
At 1-0, the visitors could still believe one moment might change the match.
At 2-0, the task became much more difficult.
Rangers now had the freedom to attack spaces created by Celtic’s attempts to respond.
McInnes’ players did not retreat into a defensive shell.
Instead, they continued to press and look for further opportunities.
That approach eventually produced a third goal.
Neil Completes a Memorable Double
Dan Neil returned to the scoresheet in the 75th minute.
The midfielder’s second goal completed an outstanding personal performance and gave Rangers an unassailable-looking three-goal advantage.
His double was particularly appropriate because of the role he had played throughout the contest.
Neil was not simply a goalscorer.
He contributed to the midfield battle, helped Rangers maintain their pressing structure and provided leadership as captain.
His performance against Celtic demonstrated why McInnes trusted him with the responsibility of leading the team in such an important match.
The second goal also brought another huge reaction from the Ibrox crowd.
At that point, Rangers could begin celebrating the prospect of a semi-final place.
The remaining minutes became an opportunity to protect the clean sheet and complete the performance.
McInnes: “No Failure”
After the match, McInnes was delighted with the contribution of his players.
The Rangers manager said he was pleased with the performance of so many players and emphasised that he did not believe there had been a failure in the team.
For McInnes, that collective contribution was precisely what was required to win an Old Firm fixture.
He also described the result as a useful reference point for Rangers going forward.
That comment is significant.
A major derby victory can generate excitement, but managers also need their teams to learn from such performances.
McInnes clearly wants Rangers to use the Celtic match as evidence of the standards they are capable of reaching.
The challenge will be reproducing those standards consistently.
Everyone Plays Their Part
McInnes’ post-match comments repeatedly returned to the collective nature of the performance.
He praised the players and supporters and explained that the match required Rangers’ full attention.
The manager also highlighted the team’s attempts to play through the lines and engage Celtic’s strikers when the press came.
The balance, in his view, was close to what Rangers needed.
That balance was visible throughout the match.
Rangers attacked with numbers without becoming completely exposed.
They pressed Celtic aggressively without losing their defensive shape.
And when opportunities appeared, they showed enough composure to take them.
The three goals came at important moments.
Neil’s first strike rewarded the early pressure.
Kelsy’s goal strengthened Rangers’ control.
Neil’s second effectively ended Celtic’s hopes.
The Importance of Scoring at the Right Moments
One of McInnes’ observations was that Rangers had not always capitalised on good moments during the season.
Against Celtic, that changed.
The team converted its opportunities when they mattered.
Kelsy and Kim missed chances early, but Rangers did not allow those misses to undermine their confidence.
When Neil found the target, the team had the reward it needed.
The second goal arrived before Celtic could seriously alter the flow of the game.
The third arrived when the visitors were attempting to recover.
That timing was crucial.
In major matches, momentum can shift quickly.
Rangers ensured that every significant positive moment strengthened their position rather than allowing Celtic an opportunity to recover.
Neil Becomes the Derby Hero
For Neil, the afternoon will remain one of the most significant of his Rangers career.
The midfielder scored the first brace of his senior career in one of the biggest fixtures in Scottish football.
His first goal demonstrated precision.
His second showed his ability to arrive in dangerous areas again after already making a major contribution.
The fact that he was wearing the captain’s armband made the achievement even more memorable.
Neil’s performance also reflected the wider Rangers approach.
He worked hard without possession, competed in midfield and remained involved throughout the match.
The goals were the most visible part of his contribution, but his influence was broader than the final scoreline suggested.
Kelsy Makes Immediate Impact
Kelsy also deserves special recognition.
The forward was making his Old Firm debut after arriving at Rangers with significant expectations.
The pressure surrounding a new signing can be particularly intense when his first major appearance comes against Celtic.
Kelsy handled the occasion effectively.
He contributed to the movement that helped create Neil’s opening goal before eventually scoring himself.
His goal came at an important stage of the match and gave Rangers the breathing room they needed.
For a new player, that is an ideal introduction to one of football’s most intense rivalries.
Rangers’ Defensive Discipline
Although the goals naturally dominated the headlines, Rangers’ defensive work was equally important.
Celtic entered the game with attacking options capable of causing problems, but Rangers largely prevented them from developing clear chances.
The back three of Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya were supported by the energetic work of the wider players.
Their willingness to defend aggressively helped keep Celtic’s forwards under pressure.
The clean sheet was the final piece of a complete performance.
Rangers did not simply outscore Celtic.
They restricted them.
That distinction will matter to McInnes as he assesses what his team can take from the match.
The Ibrox Crowd Plays Its Role
With no Celtic supporters permitted inside the stadium, the atmosphere was entirely dominated by the Rangers faithful.
That created an environment in which every Rangers positive moment received an immediate response.
McInnes had specifically asked his players before the match to bring the supporters into the contest.
They succeeded.
The early pressure gave the crowd something to respond to.
The opening goal intensified the atmosphere.
Kelsy’s second-half strike produced another surge of noise.
Neil’s second goal effectively turned the afternoon into a celebration.
For Rangers, the relationship between the players and supporters was one of the most important elements of the performance.
The manager acknowledged that everyone had a role to play.
Celtic Face a Difficult Assessment
While Rangers celebrated, Celtic were left to assess a performance that fell well below their usual standards.
Captain Callum McGregor was particularly critical after the match, saying Celtic had looked like a “team of individuals” rather than the collective unit Rangers demonstrated.
His comments highlighted one of the biggest differences between the sides.
Rangers moved together.
Celtic struggled to do the same.
That issue will need attention before the next Old Firm meeting.
The League Cup defeat does not erase Celtic’s previous results, but it provides important information about areas that need improvement.
The visitors must find a better way to deal with aggressive pressing and ensure that their midfield is not isolated.
Another Old Firm Meeting Arrives Quickly
The rivalry will not remain dormant for long.
Rangers and Celtic are scheduled to meet again in the Scottish Premiership on September 20, only one week after the League Cup quarter-final.
That match will provide a very different challenge.
Celtic will have home advantage and will be determined to respond.
Rangers will arrive with confidence from their 3-0 victory but will also know that repeating such a performance will require another major effort.
The tactical battle will be fascinating.
Celtic will have had time to consider how Rangers’ pressing system disrupted them.
McInnes, meanwhile, will need to decide whether to use a similar approach or introduce adjustments of his own.
Rangers Reach the Semi-Finals
The immediate reward for Rangers is a place in the last four of the competition.
They were subsequently drawn to face Aberdeen in the semi-finals.
That gives McInnes another opportunity to take Rangers closer to silverware.
The League Cup represents an important competition for a club with Rangers’ ambitions.
Reaching the semi-finals provides momentum, but there is still considerable work ahead.
The manager will be aware that knockout football can produce very different challenges.
For now, however, the focus can be on celebrating an Old Firm victory that demonstrated what his side can achieve.
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