TOP OF THE PILE
Gerrard wears out carpet at home as Gers pull rug from under Hoops with second-half show
RANGERS...1 CELTIC...0
But at least he got to witness Celtic being put on the floor.
His was not the usual face in the technical area. But there was no change from the recent story in Glasgow.
Filip Helander’s thunderous second-half header made it six Rangers wins in the last seven games against their rivals.
To do it was impressive. To do against the backdrop of problems and Covid issues even more so.
Assistant Gary McAllister was the one leading from the front as Gerrard paced up and down his living room wearing holes in the living-room pile.
He’d have sunk into the couch at full-time and relaxed in satisfaction.
Gerrard has had to deal with things this season that never bothered him once last term.
Lack of form. A defeat in the league. Criticism over European performances. Players not performing.
Not to mention a hefty whack from the Covid pandemic.
But one thing has stayed the same. Mastery of Celtic.
And, as long as that continues, any other Gerrard worries won’t linger very long.
In a bitty start to their season, Rangers needed a launchpad. A lift-off.
Halting the gathering momentum of counterpart Ange Postecoglou and his improving team in front of 50,000 jubilant home fans tends to have that effect. This wasn’t about plunging seeds of doubt into Celtic. This was about Rangers restoring their own levels of self-confidence and feelings of control and it was a sore one for the Aussie.
Especially as it could have been so different if Odsonne Edouard had repaid his faith.
The Frenchman had an ideal chance to say the perfect farwell. Instead, he’s set to leave Celtic with a howler of a firsthalf miss his last legacy.
Postecoglou must have been gutted. He didn’t get as much out of Kyogo Furuhashi by putting him out wide to accommodate Edouard and got no return.
The Aussie will come again. Unlike many of the recent derby showdowns, Celtic competed strongly and, had that momentous chance been taken, their feelgood could have been extended.
Postecoglou has managed to spark such a turnaround in feelings within his club in such a short space of time and this won’t define his season.
Celtic’s supporters have hope and belief again, but they may have to suffer some more bad days before their new manager can complete the turnaround.
It’s now two years since Rangers were beaten by Celtic in the Premiership and selfisolating Gerrard could have wandered into his kitchen and cracked a beer as Ibrox partied to that backdrop.
It was such fine margins. Tiny details at key points make the difference. Just as has been happening recently, Rangers took the big chance. Celtic did not. And so the Glasgow status quo remains for now.
It wasn’t the high-scoring affair many predicted, but it was enthralling nonetheless.
Frantic, ferocious and wide open, that was expected.
Despite the energy, neither keeper was worked in the opening period until Joe Hart easily clutched a Steven Davis free-kick three minutes from the break, but that was only
down to that dreadful miss beforehand from Edouard.
Liel Abada fed Furuhashi and his centre into the box put a finish on a plate for the Frenchman.
However, as he opened his right peg to try and apply to killer touch, Edouard heeled a dismal miscue miles wide.
Postecoglou plunged hands onto his head. He knew it was a huge chance with his team on top as the play cut the rejigged Rangers backline apart.
Defensive issues were outlined by the naming of Leon Balogun at right-back with James Tavernier and Nathan Patterson absent due to the Covid outbreak.
Robby McCrorie stayed in goal for a Premiership debut with Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin absent. Both stand-ins were excellent.
McCrorie made saves when needed and Balogun kept Furuhasi, for the most part, quiet, although one ball against his trailing arm as he slid to ground denied his rival.
Rangers’ best chance of the first period came when Kent whipped a curling shot against Hart’s left-hand post.
But they took took more initiative after the restart. Winning more 50-50s and second balls with Kent and Roofe having shots.
And with 66 minutes on the clock, the champions made the breakthrough that had been coming and proved the winner.
Borna Barisic delivered a swinging corner to the far post and Helander arrived like an express train to rise above his countryman Carl Starfelt and power a header beyond Hart.
Ibrox exploded. Postecoglou immediately hauled off Edouard and pushed Furuhashi through the middle for an almost instant pay off. Straight away, it was shown he might have been better starting there.
Having just scored, Helander missed a through ball and needed McCrorie to bail him out by getting out to the feet and denying the pacy Japanese forward.
Celtic needed a find a spark with Tom Rogic introduced and had a late flurry for a leveller. Hart came up for the last corner.
Five minutes from time, they should have when the Aussie slipped Furuhashi clear.
The hitman chose to shoot instead of squaring to Christie and McCrorie made a superb save with his right boot.
Just like Helander at the other end, another huge contribution from an unlikely Rangers hero to get the job done. Just as Rangers now keep doing in the fixture.