If confidence was low at Rangers heading into the first Old Firm derby of 2025, then the belief amongst the Ibrox faithful will not have been boosted when the team sheet filtered through.
Rangers were without goalkeeper Jack Butland, as well as captain James Tavernier, Leon Balogun and John Souttar, not to mention Feyenoord loanee Neraysho Kasanwirjo.
And, up against a rampaging Celtic side who had already scored six times against Philippe Clement’s side this season, the prospect of a hodgepodge backline of Liam Kelly, Ridvan Yilmaz, Dujon Sterling, Robin Propper and Jefte going head-to-head with Kyogo and co was just about the thing of nightmares as far as the home support were concerned.
Now, the eventual 3-0 scoreline was not exactly unexpected.
But, after Rangers dropped points against St Mirren and Motherwell, those predicting that those three answered goals would be scored by the boys in blue rather than those in green didn’t just have their glasses half-full, but rather overflowing with what most would describe as near-reckless optimism.
As it transpired, Rangers would not only pummel Celtic into submission at one end – Ianis Hagi opened the scoring early on before Danilo and the aforementioned Propper found the net – they would also restrict The Hoops to one shot on target at the other end.
Liam Kelly, making only his second appearance for his boyhood club, could not have dreamed of an easier afternoon. Butland’s back up was forced a single save – beating away a Reo Hatate volley late in the first-half – all the while commanding his penalty area and setting Rangers on the attack with some eye-catching distribution.
Philippe Clement hails Liam Kelly as Rangers’ back-up shines on Old Firm debut
“I am very pleased for him,” Clement said, the Scotland international following up his debut against Dundee in December with another clean sheet. “I knew that he was ready because he played against Dundee.
“He has also been really important when he’s not been playing; In the dressing room, before games and after games, around the training [ground].
“He is really involved. He’s a Rangers fan, this is his childhood dream to win an Old Firm and keep a clean sheet. It cannot be better for him but he deserves it. From the day he stepped into the building on the first day, he was involved.
“I am very pleased with him.
“I don’t think there was really one big save from Liam. A few times he came [for] crosses but no massive things. Defensively, its always a team performance and the team performance was really good.”
On an afternoon where many of Rangers’ summer additions stepped up and stood out – Nedim Bajrami ‘nullified’ Celtic captain Callum McGregor while Jefte and Mo Diomande produced arguably their best performances in Scottish football – the much-maligned Propper opened his account at the 23rd time of asking.
Following in after Kasper Schmeichel had parried Nico Raskin’s header, the Dutchman rammed the ball home from close range to double the hosts’ advantage.
Propper wore the captain’s armband at former employers FC Twente, and may have been considered for the role in Tavernier’s absence. Clement instead opted for the younger man in Raskin although – metaphorically speaking – it was a performance in which the burden of the armband was shared by all in blue.
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Clement delighted with Robin Propper and Nico Raskin roles in Celtic win
“[It has been a few] crazy weeks with injuries, with players going out, [where] we had to change things. Players had to play out of position or make their debut in an Old Firm, like Liam,” Clement adds.
“So its not a perfect preparation. But you see everyone in the squad is involved, they did it in a brilliant style today. They followed the plan from the first second to the last. Of course, we still made some mistakes but less than in the League Cup [final].
“This, we need to continue.
“Robin has this experience [of being a captain] out of the past but, coming into a new club, you need to adapt to everything. It takes a while before you can take the responsibility in the dressing room.
“He [lead by example] today, but I want eleven leaders on the pitch. That’s my dream. I didn’t manage to create that yet but I am pushing for that all the time.
“I give responsibility to the players. We want to make the plan really clear so everyone knows [what to do], but also to create the right mentality and to stay positive.”
Celtic legend Chris Sutton labelled Nico Raskin the ‘outstanding’ performer on the day. Clement, meanwhile, is delighted to see a player many had written off a few months ago prove his critics wrong with another typically ferocious display.
“Nico is also taking really good steps,” Clement explains. “That is why I give him the responsibility to be captain; To learn these things and to stay calm when you don’t agree with the referee, that we focus on our football and we don’t get distracted or intimidated by another player saying things to you.
“These are the steps we need to take with the young players. The older players need to help, so i am happy.”
