Ibrox battlers will bemoan missed opportunities
The newly appointed bona fide boss was tasked with a game- plan which had be better than just trying to hold on and hope for the best.
The template for success was clear from the first whistle as his players set about putting a high squeeze on a Celtic defence which has been creaking for weeks.
No Ryan Jack, no problem. Niko Kranjcar retained his place as Murty opted for craft rather than graft in a midfield which a lso had Daniel Candeias and Josh Windass.
It was an impressive high press for half an hour before Rangers looked to be running out of steam.
But instead of buckling at the break they regrouped and dominated and Murty’s tactical approach merited more than a point.
I n just five minutes, Windass played in Alfredo Morelos but the chance to get a foothold in the match was squandered.
Rangers dictated play in the opening period but the failure to capitalise in the final third was underlined moments later when Ross McCrorie slashed at a shot after Celtic had been carved apart.
Wes Foderingham blocked Moussa Dembele’s close-range effort before brilliantly tipping a James Forrest shot clear.
The keeper was the pinball wizard once again with a succession of blocks, the best from Scott Sinclair, as Celtic started to assert themselves on a defence which was coming apart at the seams.
The situation for Gers wasn’t helped when Bruno Alves limped off to be replaced by David Bates early on.
The pattern of play was now about Celtic trying to unlock Rangers as Murt y’s men dropped the intensity.
Sinclair and Kieran Tierney were getting in behind James Tavernier as another defensive deficiency was exposed.
If the right-hand side of the defence was malfunctioning, it was nothing compared to the left as Declan John and Danny Wilson failed to match runners and Stuart Armstrong slid a cross to Sinclair who somehow stabbed a shot wide.
Goalless at the interval but there had been little suggestion of what was to come as the tide began to turn. Candeias’s cross to Tavernier three minutes after the restart had Craig Gordon tipping a volley over the top.
Another terrific teaser of a delivery from Candeias caused mayhem in the Celtic defence as Windass failed to get a connect ion and Gordon flapped. It may have come to nothing but Rangers were now carrying a genuine threat.
Tavernier’s cross was planted on the head of Morelos who should have been bursting the net rather than placing a header which allowed Gordon’s leg to divert the ball wide.
The man known as the Buffalo was provided more ammunition from Tavernier but again he misfired.
It was to be the Old Firm derby which got away for Murty, A match where Celtic displayed a f ragi le side and Rangers can now celebrate a Happy New Ye a r w i t h renewed hope.