Rangers player ratings vs Celtic: 9/10 Ibrox enigma morphs into McTominay but hosts blow two-goal cushion
Here’s how we rated the Rangers starting XI and subs in their 2-2 Old Firm draw with Celtic at Ibrox
Rangers blew a two-goal lead in a breathless Old Firm derby as Celtic staged a spirited second half fightback to ensure the spoils were shared and more points dropped in the Premiership title race.
Youssef Chermiti fired the hosts ahead at Ibrox with a spectacular overhead kick from Andreas Skov Olsen’s clipped cross as they put their opponents on the back-foot from the outset. And the heavily criticised Portuguese forward netting again before half-time.
Kieran Tierney then halved the deficit after the break and Luke McCowan missed a big chance to level things up as Rangers began to toil as the second half wore on. Half-time substitute Reo Hatate turned the game in the Hoops’ favour and the Japanese midfielder notched a penalty on 90 minutes to level the contest.
Seeing out games from winning positions has been Rangers’ Achilles heel and the way this match panned out sums up their season. Having worked ever so hard to open a two-goal cushion by half-time, their hard work was undone in the second period and Danny Rohl’s side finished the game with their backs firmly against the wall.
Defeat for either team could have spelled disaster for their title hopes, but this result only benefits league leaders Hearts in the grand scheme of things. The Jambos finish the weekend with a six-point lead over the Light Blues and sitting eight clear of third-placed Celtic.
Rangers needed a much-improved display from last weekend’s 2-1 stalemate at bottom club Livingston and Rohl got the response he was searching for from his players during the first 45 minutes.
Over 40% of the opening 14 minutes were played in Celtic’s half of the pitch as rampant Rangers put their rivals to the sword. Visiting keeper Viljami Sinisalo - replacing Kasper Schmeichel between the sticks - could do nothing to prevent Chermiti from breaking the deadlock. The striker rose highest to produce a stunning bicycle kick reminiscent of Scott McTominay’s goal for Scotland against Denmark in World Cup qualification last year.
Chermiti then pounced on a huge Dane Murray blunder to lift the ball over Julian Araujo and prod home a second after 25 minutes. It looked at that stage there would only be one winner as Rangers lay siege on the Celtic goal.
However, the introduction of Hatate and Sebastian Tounekti swung the momentum in Celtic’s favour. Had it not been for some excellent saves from Jack Butland, Rangers could easily have come away from this game with a damaging defeat.
Celtic’s sustained pressure paid off when Benjamin Nygren’s dinked delivery was headed home by Tierney before a string of saves from Butland kept Rangers in front. That was until the 90th minute when Dujon Sterling was penalised for handball after letting Daizen Maeda’s header glance off his outstretched arm.
Referee John Beaton pointed to the spot after a VAR check and Hatate eventually bundled home at the third attempt to snatch a vital point. Next up for Rangers is their is a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against their bitter rivals back in Govan next Sunday.
Here’s how we rated the Rangers players:
GK: Jack Butland - 8/10
Barely had a save to make in first-half. Called into action after 55 minutes, getting a strong hand to Hatate’s low strike from distance. Down well to hold Maeda’s powerful header just past the hour mark. Denied McCowan at his front post as Rangers started to toil and thwarted Maeda from point-blank range with a sublime save. No chance of keeping out Tierney’s goal. Excellent double stop from Hatate’s penalty but helpless to keep out the Japanese midfielder’s third effort.
RB: Dujon Sterling - 6/10
Overcame fitness concerns to start in place of James Tavernier. Great strength to shrug off Tounekti one-v-one late on when Rangers looked particularly vulnerable at the back. Conceded a late penalty after being penalised for handball.
RCB: John Souttar - 6/10
Wearing the captain’s armband in Tavernier’s absence, produced a crunching first-half challenge on Adamu. Had a goal-bound strike blocked. Booked for chopping down Tounekti. Concentration levels dipped in closing stages, caught out of position on a few occasions.
LCB: Emmanuel Fernandez - 7/10
Known for aerial threat in both boxes, the towering defender headed just wide of the far post late in the first half. Sliced rebound wide after Souttar’s effort was blocked. Rarely pressured defensively until late on.
LB: Tuur Rommens - 7/10
Another impressive display form the Belgian. Fired straight at Sinisalo early in the second half. Looked assured on the ball and sent in a few dangerous deliveries.
CM: Tochi Chukwuani - 6/10
Turned the ball over regularly in the first-half. Tired as the second half wore on and fortunate to get away with one after diving in on Nygren and giving away a foul on the edge of the box.
CM: Nico Raskin - 6/10
Started brightly. Forced Sinisalo into an early save from a close-range effort. Outjumped by Tierney for Celtic’s opener. Barged over by Araujo and then scythed down by Hatate after the break. Hatate’s arrival came just as the Belgian began to tire.
CAM: Andreas Skov Olsen - 6/10
Stood up a teasing cross to provide the assist for Chermiti’s outrageous acrobatic opener. Early second half goal-bound shot blocked. Fell out of the game after the break. Subbed.
CAM: Mikey Moore - 9/10
Bossed the show from start to finish. Very lively in the early exchanges. Short corner led to Raskin’s early chance. Clipped delivery to the back post almost resulted in a goal. A terrific performance.
CF: Ryan Naderi - 5/10
Put himself about well in the first-half, but didn’t quite have the impact he would’ve hoped for on his Old Firm debut. Fairly anonymous in the second half. Subbed.
CF: Youssef Chermiti - 9/10
A real enigma. Has proved to be the man for the big occasion in recent times and so it proved again here. Sensational overhead kick to break the deadlock. Capitalised on a defensive blunder from Murray before lifting the ball over Araujo and slotting low past the keeper to make it 2-0. Both goals were international class.
SUB: Mohamed Diomande - 4/10
Replaced Naderi just beyond the hour mark as Rohl opted for a change of shape. Helped shore things up amid some intense late pressure.
SUB: Djeidi Gassama - 3/10
Brought on for Skov Olsen. Offered little going forward.