The Old Firm clash at Parkhead is always a fixture we circle on the calendar, a day where emotions run high and expectations even higher. Unfortunately, this time around, Rangers were far from their best, and it was a deeply disappointing afternoon for all of us who bleed blue.
Embarrassment at Parkhead: A Performance to Forget
Kris Boyd didn’t mince words when he described Rangers’ performance as “embarrassing,” and it’s hard to argue with that assessment. From about after 15 minutes after the first whistle, it seemed like the team just wasn’t up for the fight. Sure, we started on the front foot, and there were a few glimmers of hope in the opening minutes, but it quickly became apparent that Celtic had the upper hand.
When Celtic’s early goal was ruled out by VAR, it should have been the wake-up call we needed. Instead, it felt like the team lost confidence and allowed Celtic to dictate the game from that moment on. It was as if the reprieve from VAR only delayed the inevitable rather than sparking the reaction we desperately needed.
A Toothless Attack: Where Were the Goals Going to Come From?
One of the most frustrating aspects of the match was the lack of any real belief that Rangers could score. Even before we fell behind, there was a sense that we were struggling to create anything meaningful in the final third. Rabbi Matondo had a golden opportunity early on, but when that header went wide, it was hard not to feel like it was going to be one of those days.
Cyriel Dessers also had his moment, yet his effort was tame and easily dealt with by Kasper Schmeichel. It’s these moments that make or break a game, and we just didn’t have the quality or composure to make them count.
Defensive Frailties Exposed Again
Defensively, this was another game where we were left shaking our heads. Celtic’s goals came all too easily, with our backline caught out of position and too slow to react. The second goal from Kyogo, a strike from 25 yards that found the bottom corner, summed up our defensive woes. We gave him far too much space, and he punished us for it.
Jack Butland, who has been solid in other games, had a day to forget. He wasn’t alone, though; the entire backline looked shaky, with James Tavernier and Robin Propper particularly disappointing. When you have that many players underperforming, it’s no surprise that we couldn’t keep Celtic at bay.
A Handful of Positives in a Sea of Negatives
If there were any positives to take from this match, they were few and far between. I’d give pass marks to Barron, Sterling, and perhaps Jefte, who at least showed some fight and effort. But the rest of the team? Far too many players didn’t turn up, and in a game of this magnitude, that’s simply unacceptable.
It’s clear that Philippe Clement has a lot of work to do to get this team back on track. The inconsistencies, particularly in big games like this, are a worrying trend. We can’t afford to have so many players putting in below-par performances and expect to come away with anything.
Looking Forward: Lessons Must Be Learned
This was a day to forget for Rangers, but it’s also one that needs to be remembered for the lessons it holds. We can’t go into big games with this level of performance and expect to come away with anything other than disappointment. The players and the coaching staff need to take a long, hard look at what went wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
As fans, we’ll keep the faith, but days like this are tough to take. We need to see a response, not just in the next game, but consistently moving forward. This club deserves better, and it’s up to everyone involved to make sure we get back to the standards that we all expect.
The next time the Old Firm comes around, we need to be ready, both mentally and physically. Let’s hope this was just a bad day at the office, and that the real Rangers show up when it matters most.