Rangers have come out on top in a pulsating Old Firm derby clash with Celtic to end a run of eight games without a win at Parkhead.
Rangers put in a tremendous first half performance to take a 2-0 lead into half-time, Nicolas Raskin getting the team off to a dream start.
Mohamed Diomande made it 2-0 with a neat finish before Celtic roared back in the second period.
Daizen Maeda got Celtic back into the game three minutes after the restart before the Parkhead side’s pressure led to Reo Hatate’s equaliser.
But after Barry Ferguson made some substitutions, Hamza Igamane popped up with a stunning finish to make it 3-2 and win the Scottish Premiership clash.
Here is how the Rangers team rated.
Rangers player ratings v Celtic
Jack Butland – 6
Jack Butland was Rangers’ hero v Fenerbache with the goalkeeper’s penalty shoot-out heroics guiding the Gers to a Europa League Quarter Final.
The 31-year-old had some questionable kicking in the first half, mis-hitting the ball a couple of times whilst also inviting pressure from the Celtic press on ocassion.
That poor distribution continued in the second half with Butland’s terrible kick out gifting possession to Celtic who would go up the pitch and score through Daizen Maeda.
That moment cancelled out Butland’s stunning diving save from a Reo Hatate effort to keep the score at 1-0 in the opening 45.
James Tavernier – 7
Rangers captain James Tavernier ordinarily his Old Firm duels with Daizen Maeda but the Ibrox skipper was up against Jota at Parkhead.
The Rangers wing-back in a back-five at Ibrox, Tavernier got on the ball and made an impact at both sides of the pitch, keeping the Portuguese winger quiet for the bulk of the first-half.
It was also Tavernier’s in-swinging corner which found the head of Nicolas Raskin for the Gers’ opener.
But as Jota burst into life in the final moments of the period, Tavernier was caught back-peddling a couple of times.
Once again caught under the ball for Celtic’s goal but never hides and his experience was crucial in providing a level of calm as the game wore on.
Dujon Sterling – 7
Dujon Sterling has had his injury problems at Rangers this season but Barry Ferguson has pointed to the Gers missing Duj’s physicality.
Helping to compete with Celtic’s pacey attack, Sterling helped Tavernier double on Jota and largely kept the winger quiet.
The defender also took one of the team by taking down the Portuguese and receiving a yellow card in the second half.
But the stand out moment for the former Chelsea youth was a stunning goal-line clearance preventing Daizen Maeda’s goal-bound header crossing the line.
John Souttar – 9 – Man of the Match
Rangers’ defensive marshal John Souttar brings an increased sense of physicality, aggression and composure to the Rangers frontline.
Stepped out on the ball in occasion but Souttar’s no-nonsense defending ensured the ball went out when it needed to with zero risks taken.
Takes control of the Rangers defence and is a powerful and solid tackler, Souttar reads the game so well and is a top class defender.
Dealt with almost everything Celtic threw into the box and is the first name on the Ibrox side’s teamsheet.
Leon Balogun – 6
Leon Balogun is another who adds aggression and physicality to the Rangers frontline and the defender was effective in winning headers and defending his box.
Did get caught on the ball at times and needs to release it quicker, with Daizen Maeda desperately trying to find space in behind the veteran centre-half.
Forced off with injury early in the second half.
Ridvan Yilmaz – 7
Called into the Rangers team with Jefte absent due to ‘personal reasons’, Ridvan Yilmaz put in an impressive first-half performance up against Nicolas Kuhn.
Yilmaz makes up for his diminutive stature by reading the ball very well and snapped into challenges, winning tackles and breaking attacks.
The final pass or touch sometimes let the defender down but this was a tenacious and industrious performance.
Mohamed Diomande – 8
Mohamed Diomande is arguably the most technical player in Scotland and was another immense performer for Rangers at Celtic Park.
The midfielder brings composure and quality to the Rangers midfielder with Dio finding himself on the end of Nicolas Raskin’s flick on before finding the bottom corner to make it 2-0 with a fine finish.
Hooked midway through the second half after another exhausting display.
Nicolas Raskin – 8
Nicolas Raskin has been one of Rangers’ top performers this season and the midfielder received a call-up to the Belgium squad at the expense of Arne Engels this week.
And the Rangers midfielder showed up his Celtic compatriot in the first half too, stinging Kasper Schmeical’s gloves with a left-foot effort before popping up to nod home the opening goal from the resultant corner.
Connor Barron – 6
Connor Barron has been a crucial player for Rangers in recent weeks after Barry Ferguson’s change of shape in Europe and at Celtic Park.
The ex-Aberdeen star has stepped into midfield and has been the unsung hero in that midfield three with Raskin and Diomande.
Always energetic, Barron hurried the Celtic midfield and also showed some composure on the ball in thew first half.
But the midfielder lost Reo Hatate for Celtic’s equaliser, allowing the Japanese midfielder to break forward into the box.
Had the chance to put Rangers in front at 2-2 but mis-hit the shot.
Vaclav Cerny – 5
Vaclav Cerny is Rangers’ most creative outlet and the Czech winger was asked play on the last man as part of a front two at Celtic Park.
Cerny should’ve had Rangers 2-0 up midway through the first half with the goal gaping after a Schemical mis-kick but the Ibrox winger hesitated on the ball.
Cerny did have some openings on the break but hesitated at times and made the wrong decisions in a disappointing performance.
Cyriel Dessers – 6
Cyriel Dessers had something of a thankless task running the Rangers frontline against Celtic’s physical centre-backs.
But the big striker competed with Cameron Carter-Vickers even if chances and openings passed the striker by. The hitman’s decision-making on the ball at times was also questionable.
But when the striker did get openings, Dessers failed to take advantage, hesitating when on-on-one v Celtic defenders. A challenging game for the hitman but needs to do better in these big games.
Won high balls and competed physically but the Rangers number nine never got his chance.
Substitutions:
Robin Propper – 6: Made a crucial interception with Jota breaking through on goal. Yellow carded for a clumsy foul on Daizen Maeda.
Ianis Hagi – 5: Showed quality and composure on the ball and picked up a yellow card as he got into the pace of the game.
Clinton Nsiala – 6: Came on for Dujon Sterling and had to show real composure in the face of Celtic in the second half.
Tom Lawrence – 5: Added experience to the midfield in a disciplined performance after coming on for Nicolas Raskin.
Hamza Igamane – 9: The Rangers hero, coming off the bench to show his star quality with a stunning lashed finish into the top corner.
