Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane were the big Rangers heroes as they brilliantly beat Celtic yesterday.
John Souttar turned in a heroic display at centre-back too but the whole team, including subs, were right on it to earn derby bragging rights.
Jack Butland was crucial for Gers too and contributed a game-changing moment with a brilliant stretching save to keep out Reo Hatate’s decent effort that was headed for the corner of the net.
And the goalkeeper, along with Raskin, was one of two players singled out by Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers post-match.
But Light Blues coach Billy Dodds has also had a crucial part to play in the win too.
- READ MORE: Sacked Rangers manager buzzing from Celtic victory and sends Barry Ferguson celebratory message
Dodds’ Rangers corner routine bears fruit
Gers’ opening goal came from the head of Raskin after a whipped James Tavernier corner.
To the naked eye it might seem simple – delivery to the front post, runner gets across his man, makes the contact and sends it goalward.
But Scott Allan, who has worked with Dodds and Neil McCann before at Inverness Caley Thistle, reckons it came straight out of the coach’s playbook.
With Tavernier lining up the set-piece, Vaclav Cerny is out wide ‘showing’ for a short one, while Connor Barron hangs outside the corner of the box. That attracts three defenders out of the danger area and leaves a gaping space for Tavernier to hit and Raskin to run into. The whole thing is then executed to perfection.
Allan said on BBC Sportscene: “This was just a continuation of Rangers trying to assert themselves early in the game and how important set-pieces can be in terms of getting a foothold in the game.
“It’s really well worked. This is a Billy Dodds special. I’ve worked with him, I’ve seen this many a time.
“Bring the three Rangers players out, it attracts the three Celtic players, it then isolates Maeda. You’ve got the guys attacking the ball in that space, Raskin gets across and does fantastically well.
“The timing of the run, the delivery from Tavernier and the finish is fantastic. But it all comes from organisation.”
Steven Naismith added: “When that space is created at the front, as a taker that’s perfect. The delivery from Tavernier, a great big space.”
John Souttar on Rangers set-pieces
John Souttar says set plays are something the team have been working on under Barry Ferguson, Dodds and McCann.
And the centre half felt they could’ve taken advantage of them even further.
He told Rangers TV: “Yeah, we have been. I think we can score a lot more from set plays, it’s something we’ve been working on.
“We attacked it well today and could have maybe scored a couple more from set plays. But it’s easy looking back.
“It was a good time to get the goal and when you score from a set-piece it always gives you that cushion, especially away from home.”
