Barry Ferguson savoured Rangers' latest Old Firm victory from the heart of the Celtic support at Parkhead. The club ambassador traveled with a small group of fans for Sunday's lunchtime clash, the only Rangers representative among them as the ban on away supporters remained in effect.
He noted the atmosphere was intense from the moment he arrived. Celtic fans gave him what he called a tasty welcome outside the stadium, and the Rangers players were booed and jeered as they entered the ground in front of a crowd of around 60,000.
Match dynamics and Rangers' performance
Ferguson said the team faced a different test because of changes in Martin O'Neill's starting lineup. Celtic's approach shifted, and Manny Fernandez was booked early in the match. Despite that, the Rangers players stayed calm and focused.
Their resilience and teamwork, particularly after the booking, were central to the performance. Ferguson described it as a real team effort. The composure paid off when Ryan Naderi scored the only goal in the 33rd minute, securing a 1-0 win. That result came just one week after a 3-0 victory over Celtic at Ibrox, with Dan Neil and Kyron Kelsy on the scoresheet that day.
Title race implications
The victory was significant for the league table. It reduced the gap at the top to just two points, maintaining Rangers' strong position in the Premiership. The team now sits second with 16 points from seven games, having won five of their last five matches.
Ferguson expressed confidence in the squad's ability to concentrate and perform under pressure. He said the players showed humility despite their strong league position, a mentality he believes will be vital for the title challenge. The team's recent form is a five-game winning run, with eight goals scored and only four conceded this season.
Rangers will look to continue that momentum when they host Kilmarnock at Ibrox on October 10. Kilmarnock currently sit 12th in the table. The squad will be without the injured José Cifuentes, Lawrence Shankland, and Youssef Chermiti for that fixture, with Shankland the team's top scorer so far with three goals.
Background and full detail: Daily Record
