CHAMPIONS ARE LOSING THEIR GRIP ON THE SILVERWARE
This one was a must win for Rangers. Having failed to do so, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are now firmly on the back foot in the title race as Celtic stride towards the Premiership crown.
If Rangers are ultimately left empty-handed come May, they will have got what they deserved from a campaign that started badly and – their exploits in the Europa League aside – has never found any rhythm. On and off the park, it has been something of a shambles at times.
The results and performances since Van Bronckhorst succeeded Steven Gerrard in November have been nowhere near good enough overall. The form table and the league table both speak for themselves and tell the story of a tame title defence.
The ramifications of failing to land 56 this term will be long lasting, and Van Bronckhorst is heading into a difficult summer as he prepares to overhaul a squad that should have been given a refresh last summer. That is one of so many failings at Ibrox in recent times.
The fall-out from derby defeat is always painful. Come the end of the season, the post-mortem will not make pleasant reading for a number of figures – both in the dressing room and the Director’s Box – as supporters rightly demand answers over just where it has all gone wrong.
The season can still be salvaged with a Scottish Cup triumph. Time will tell where the Europa League journey will end as Van Bronckhorst’s side prepare to head to Braga next week.
It was the Premiership that was the priority, though. Given where the Old Firm were last summer, it is bad enough that Rangers found themselves chasing at this stage.
The champions now need a miracle and a Celtic collapse. Rangers had 90 minutes to keep their dreams alive but the coming weeks will see them live the nightmare if Ange Postecoglou’s side do – as can now be expected – go on to put green and white ribbons on the trophy.
BIGGEST NAMES DIDN’T TURN UP
This was a day for the leaders to come to the fore, for the star men to shine brightest on the most important afternoon of the campaign so far. Too many in blue didn’t perform.
When Aaron Ramsey opened his Old Firm account just minutes into his derby debut, it looked like this was finally going to be the moment for him to justify all the hype and the expense.
The Welshman can’t be faulted for effort, but he didn’t dominate and control the midfield in the manner that Rangers needed him too. He was, right enough, far from the most culpable.
His intentions were positive throughout. There were times when it looked like his mind was working faster than his legs and it was no surprise that he didn’t last the pace as he was replaced by Fashion Sakala after 64 minutes.
By that time, Rangers were in need of a hero. Those who had seemed primed for the role – namely Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent – hadn’t lived up to the billing in the first hour.
The drop-off from Aribo since the African Cup of Nations has been stark. In the first half of the campaign, he was miles ahead of anyone else at Ibrox, but recent months have seen his influence and his output wane and this was another frustrating outing.
The same could be said for Kent. There were flashes of inspiration, but he couldn’t really assert himself on proceedings when Rangers needed him to produce a moment of magic.
When it comes to Kemar Roofe, it was a case of as expected. The loss of Alfredo Morelos was sorely felt by Rangers and the Jamaican internationalist couldn’t have the impact that Van Bronckhorst needed him to.
Some touches were neat and ideas clever, but his lack of physicality was an issue as Rangers had no out ball and the high intensity press of the opening stages quickly faded as control was lost soon after the lead was squandered.
DEFENSIVE WEAKNESSES TOO EASILY EXPOSED
There was a theory in the build-up to kick-off that Rangers could look to exploit Celtic from crosses and set-piece situations. Instead, it was the champions who shot themselves in the foot by failing to clear their lines.
Van Bronckhorst’s side looked subject throughout the first half. With just minutes remaining of it, Celtic completed the turnaround as Cameron Carter-Vickers scored from close range.
The tackle from John Lundstram that allowed Celtic the chance to test Rangers was needless as he lunged into Georgios Giakoumakis on the far touchline. Within seconds, the champions had been made to pay and they had it all to do after the break.
Leon Balogun didn’t clear his lines, Lundstram wasn’t alert enough and Carter-Vickers was under little pressure as he finished well from close range.
Like the first goal, it was all so avoidable from a Rangers perspective. In many ways, though, it was symptomatic of the issues that have permeated the campaign and left them in this position in the title race.
Callum McGregor was allowed to breeze into the area as he evaded a weak challenge from Calvin Bassey and went untracked by Ramsey. Having survived an initial scare when Tom Rogic’s shot was blocked, Rangers’ luck soon ran out.
Allan McGregor could have done better to divert a Reo Hatate strike to safety. But there was no pressure on Rogic as he converted from close range and Rangers got what they deserved as they failed to capitalise on their storming start.
A wonderful McGregor save denied Liel Abada after another woeful phase of play late on as Celtic finally found some attacking intent after the break.
It mattered little. The damage had been done. It could well prove fatal.
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