Rangers manager Derek McInnes celebrated his inaugural Old Firm triumph as his side dismantled Celtic 3-0, clinching a place in the Scottish League Cup semi‑finals. The victory was highlighted by a brace from captain Dan Neil and a debut goal from recent £9.2 million acquisition Kevin Kelsy, who marked his first Old Firm appearance at a jubilant Ibrox Stadium that was notably devoid of travelling fans. Celtic found themselves unable to cope with Rangers' relentless, man‑to‑man pressing strategy, which left them bereft of clear chances and resulted in their first cup defeat to their Glasgow rivals in seven attempts.
Early on, both Kelsy and newcomer Minsu Kim squandered golden opportunities, but the deadlock was finally broken in the 23rd minute when Neil, operating as a stand‑in skipper, calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a fluid exchange with the forward duo of Ryan Naderi and Kelsy. The Venezuelan international then added a second goal in the second half, volleying home a flick‑on from Naderi at the far post, demonstrating his growing confidence at the club. Neil completed his double fifteen minutes from the final whistle, striking from the edge of the area into the top corner to seal a comprehensive win. Rangers' next challenge will be a semi‑final clash with Aberdeen scheduled for the weekend of October 31/November 1, while Hearts have been drawn against Hibernian.
Key moments of the match were captured in a detailed timeline: at the 4‑minute mark Johnstone attempted a clearance that landed directly at Kelsy's feet; the goalkeeper was caught off his line and Kelsy’s shot missed the target. Sixteen minutes in, Johnstone again mishandled a ball, allowing Minsu a chance that was cleared off the line by Scales. The decisive opening goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Carter‑Vickers failed to clear a danger, enabling Kelsy to feed Neil, who finished clinically. The second half saw a series of saves from Johnstone, including a crucial stop of Minsu's effort at 49 minutes and a header from Naderi at 50 minutes.
Kelsy's persistence paid off at 59 minutes when he converted a Penrice cross for his first goal for Rangers. After a brief off‑side controversy involving Raskin and Fernandez, Celtic's attempts were thwarted, culminating in Neil's second goal at 76 minutes – a curling strike into the top corner that effectively sealed the tie. Post‑match analysis from Sky Sports' Adam Binnie highlighted McInnes' tactical acumen.
The manager repurposed left‑back James Penrice as a secondary midfielder, bolstering the central zone and enabling a high‑press system that suffocated Celtic. Wing‑backs Djeidi Gassama and Minsu Kim supplied width and vigor, while a trio of defenders – Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya – engaged in a disciplined three‑versus‑three battle against Celtic's attacking line. This bold configuration forced Celtic to collapse under sustained pressure. Neil emerged as the midfield engine, outshining Celtic's playmaker Callum McGregor, who found himself isolated without a defensive partner.
McInnes praised his squad's execution, noting the importance of maintaining focus and delivering a performance worthy of the club's standards. He also underscored the upcoming challenge of an away fixture against their rivals, emphasizing the need to stay sharp for the next league encounter, which could narrow the points gap to just two.
In his post‑match remarks, McInnes expressed delight with the team's display, stating, "We didn't have any failures today; that’s the kind of performance you need to win. It gives us a great reference point moving forward." He added that the win would serve as a benchmark for newer squad members and reinforced the club's strength both on and off the pitch. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill conceded that his side were outplayed, lamenting missed opportunities in the first half and acknowledging the magnitude of the fixture for supporters.
He described the defeat as a wake‑up call and hinted at a rigorous assessment of both his own performance and that of his players ahead of the next league game. Overall, the match showcased Rangers' tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and the immediate impact of new signings, setting the stage for an exciting semi‑final showdown and reinforcing the intensity of the Old Firm rivalry in Scottish football.