Rangers celebrated a commanding 3-0 triumph over their fierce Glasgow rivals Celtic, a victory that not only marked Derek McInnes's first win in an Old Firm encounter as the club's manager but also propelled the team into the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup. The match, staged at the iconic Ibrox Stadium, unfolded in front of a largely empty ground due to the absence of travelling supporters, yet the atmosphere was electric as the home side displayed relentless intensity from the first whistle. The opening goal arrived in the 23rd minute when stand-in captain Dan Neil, who had been quietly orchestrating play from midfield, found space on the edge of the penalty area and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The strike was the culmination of a well‑executed move involving the newly signed Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy and fellow attacker Ryan Naderi, whose off‑the‑ball runs and quick interchanges forced the Celtic defence to scramble. Neil's finish was a textbook example of precision: low, powerful, and placed beyond the reach of Celtic keeper Johnstone, who had already been tested earlier by a wayward clearance from his own backline.
Kelsy, who arrived at Rangers on the £9.2 million deadline day and made his Old Firm debut, quickly justified the investment. After missing a clear chance in the first half, he redeemed himself in the second period by converting a flick‑on from Naderi at the far post. The Venezuelan international met the ball with a clean volley, sending it rippling into the net and marking his inaugural goal for the club.
This moment not only highlighted his technical ability but also underscored the effectiveness of McInnes's tactical setup, which had positioned Kelsy as a focal point in the attacking third. Neil completed his brace fifteen minutes from time, again striking from the edge of the box. This time his shot curled into the top corner, leaving Johnstone rooted to the spot.
The captain's second goal cemented Rangers' dominance and effectively sealed the tie, sending the Rangers faithful into a frenzy as the team celebrated a comprehensive victory that left Celtic visibly shaken. Celtic, for their part, struggled to adapt to Rangers' aggressive, man‑for‑man pressing system. From the outset, McInnes instructed his side to press high and compact, using left‑back James Penrice as an auxiliary midfielder to overload the central areas.
This tactical nuance forced Celtic into a cramped shape, limiting the influence of their creative hub, Callum McGregor, who found himself isolated without a defensive midfield partner to shield him. The pressure manifested in several half‑chances for Rangers, including early attempts by Kelsy and Minsu Kim that forced Celtic goalkeeper Johnstone into a series of reflex saves. The match timeline read like a script of Rangers' superiority.
At the 4‑minute mark, a routine clearance by Celtic defender Johnstone was intercepted by Kelsy, who, with the goalkeeper out of position, attempted a low drive that drifted just wide. Sixteen minutes later, Johnstone again mis‑controlled a ball, allowing Minsu Kim a clear shot that was ultimately cleared off the line by Celtic defender Scales. By the 23rd minute, the breakthrough arrived as Carter‑Vickers failed to clear a dangerous cross, and Kelsy delivered a precise pass to Neil, who finished clinically. The second half continued in the same vein.
At the 49th minute, Johnstone produced a spectacular save from a close‑range effort by Minsu Kim, only for the home side to respond minutes later when Neil's header was denied. The decisive third goal came in the 59th minute when Kelsy, having missed his earlier chance, connected with a Penrice cross and smashed the ball home for his first goal in a Rangers shirt. Celtic's attempts to respond were sporadic; a mis‑timed run by Raskin resulted in an off‑side goal that was disallowed, and a later effort by Hassan sailed over the bar.
The final goal, Neil's second of the afternoon, arrived in the 76th minute. The captain curled a powerful shot into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and effectively putting the tie beyond doubt. The result not only gave Rangers a place in the semi‑finals, where they will meet Aberdeen on the weekend of October 31/November 1, but also marked Celtic's first cup defeat in seven attempts against their city rivals.
Post‑match, Sky Sports' Adam Binnie highlighted McInnes's strategic acumen. By deploying Penrice in a deeper role, Rangers were able to flood the midfield, creating numerical superiority that allowed them to press Celtic aggressively and win the ball high up the pitch. Wing‑backs Djeidi Gassama and Minsu Kim provided width and relentless energy, while the front three of Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya executed disciplined three‑versus‑three defending against Celtic's attacking line.
This bold approach paid dividends as Celtic's structure collapsed under sustained pressure. Rangers' captain Dan Neil emerged as the standout midfielder, outshining his Celtic counterpart McGregor, who was left to operate in isolation.
Neil's dual goals and his work rate in the middle of the park exemplified the balance between defensive diligence and attacking thrust that McInnes's side displayed throughout the match. In the press conference, McInnes praised his team's performance, stating, "I'm delighted with the performance of so many today.
We didn't have any major failures, and that's what it takes to win. This gives us a good reference point moving forward." He also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus ahead of the upcoming semi‑final and the next league fixture, noting the need for consistency and resilience.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, on the other hand, admitted his side were outplayed, saying, "We were well beaten in the end. In the first half we didn't capitalise on a couple of decent chances when we broke their press. It was second best, and we need to realise how big this game is for the fans and for the club." He acknowledged the physical and tactical superiority of Rangers and warned that the upcoming league clash would be a stern test for his squad. Overall, the 3‑0 victory not only reinforced Rangers' ambitions in the League Cup but also sent a clear message to their rivals: under McInnes's guidance, the team is capable of executing a high‑pressing, possession‑based game plan that can dismantle even the most storied opponents.
With the semi‑final against Aberdeen looming, Rangers will look to build on this performance, while Celtic must regroup quickly to address the tactical deficiencies exposed by their Glasgow neighbours.