Rangers fell just short in the cruelest of fashions at the end of the Premier Sports Cup final.
To lose any game on penalties is hard to accept but when it is a cup final against your biggest rivals and you were the underdog, that’s about as tough as it gets.
Celtic were the winners with the decisive factor being Kasper Schmeichel’s save from Ridvan Yilmaz’s penalty.
But what is more encouraging for Gers is the performance on the day as they matched Celtic after too many one-sided derbies in recent times.
Even Cameron Carter-Vickers was full of praise for the Rangers display as he named the one area they were ‘really good’ in.
Philippe Clement spoke of his pride post-match as he also explained why goalkeeper Jack Butland took a spot kick in the shootout.
He also detailed why Cyriel Dessers didn’t take a Gers penalty after a bit of criticism from pundits and fans.
- READ MORE: Rangers fans question what Celtic man did during penalty kicks as IFAB laws under scrutiny
Clement praised for Rangers tactics
In recent games, Clement has been a bit braver by having a more attacking midfielder playing in behind the striker.
Previously it had been Mohamed Diomande at the tip of the triumvirate with Connor Barron and Nicolas Raskin.
It may have been tempting to go back to that for solidity but Diomande played alongside Raskin with Nedim Bajrami, who scored the opener, at number 10.
Former Light Blues winger Neil McCann reckons that’s where the Albanian was signed to play and that he thrived as a result of being moved there.
He told BBC Sportscene: “I thought Rangers were miles ahead of where they were when they faced them at Celtic Park.
“The shape allowed Rangers to be a big feature in the game. Philippe Clement changed it a wee bit, we’ve seen him for large parts of the season playing with three midfielders and three attackers.
“But getting an extra attacker in there and playing Bajrami as a 10…this is where this guy was bought to play and he’s had to be patient.
“I think he’s a much better player coming from the 10. Hagi was brilliant, his work rate on the left wing.
“Bajrami was set up to pounce on any mistakes and I just feel that there’s a lot of risk in that from Philippe Clement.
“And it paid off for him because he’ll get a lot of plaudits for how Rangers played.
“This is a side of Rangers I’ve not seen too many times. I think in Europe they’ve saved their best performances.
“But they’ve not shown that type of aggression in their game. That type of character, grit and determination and quality you have to say as well to get back into the game.”
Igamane wrong choice at ‘pivotal moment’
A ‘pivotal’ moment in the game has also been highlighted as Rangers went into a 4-on-one situation while 1-0 up.
But Hamza Igamane picked the wrong pass and Cameron Carter-Vickers was able to mop up.
McCann added: “What a pivotal moment of a cup final, of any game.
“Igamane, for me, makes the absolute wrong choice. He just slows up, play it inside to Diomande there and he’s in the centre of the goals.
“He probably picks the best option that Celtic could have wished for which is shoving it wide down Carter-Vickers’ right side. Wrong decision.”
