As the dust settles on Rangers’ damaging defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic, there may be a little bit more clarity regarding the performances and the goals that changed the game.
From a Celtic point of view, they won the match via a resolute and confident display in Ibrox, finding their feet after a raucous Rangers start had initially sent them scattering.
But they did so without playing at the same level they have done this season, Celtic not exactly having to play unbelievably well to win the game.
Resolute, defiant and concentrated, yes; swashbuckling and full of attacking flair, no.
The game was won – and lost – in two moments of absolute panic in the Rangers penalty area as the Ibrox side flapped in their own box and surrendered two meek goals.
In the first, Allan McGregor, caught mid-flashback to Reo Hatate beating him twice at Parkhead, failed to deal with a soft shot and palmed it right into the path of Tom Rogic.
For the second, Rangers once again failed to deal with a cross into the box before Carter Vickers scrambled it home.
This after the Gers had stormed into an early lead.
From here, the whistle may as well have sounded. Rangers were beaten and it speaks volumes about the mentality in so many of the players in this Gers side that they huffed, puffed but never once seriously looked like making a breakthrough.
Players hid. Panic crept in. It appears for the second Old Firm in a row, the jig was up by halftime.
Uninspiring Rangers chuck Champions League opportunity v Celtic
Some 50/50 penalty shouts aside, Rangers were uninspiring and lacklustre and the inquest is already under way after a match which is somewhat symbolic of our entire league season.
The management also needs to shoulder the blame, the team’s insistence on recycling possession to the wings before putting it into the Celtic box for them to win every header genuinely astounding.
Uninventive, unimaginative and uninspired; there are so many at Rangers who’re done, and the management might be amongst them if the next few weeks pan out the wrong way.
At present, Rangers do not deserve to be champions – the club has won 50% of their league games since the split – whilst Celtic on current form appear worthy winners.
But whilst the legacy of 55 remains, the future at Ibrox is increasingly uncertain.
Rangers gambled on that squad winning this title and securing the automatic Champions League group stage qualification that comes with it.
This – according to the reputable Daily Business Group – is worth an initial £30m and comes after amazing work from the Ibrox club in improving the coefficient.
Celtic, perennial underachievers on the continental stage, will now walk into the prestigious competition at Rangers behest as the Gers meekly all but surrender the title.
It’s not over yet, but the fact Rangers couldn’t break down Celtic on our own patch, despite them failing to impose their A game, and with some of our key players letting the club and fans down by hiding on the pitch, suggests we’d be as well delivering the cheque ourselves.
Here’s our match report from what was a bitterly disappointing afternoon at Ibrox.
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