Ange Postecoglou singled out Allan McGregor for praise as the Rangers goalkeeper did his best to keep a rampant Celtic at bay in Wednesday’s 3-0 Old Firm derby defeat at Parkhead, speaking to Sky Sports.
As Rangers got swept away in a Celtic storm, McGregor stood strong to ensure that a disastrous first half on the green side of Glasgow did not descend into something approaching a farce.
The Hoops might have been three goals to the good at the interval – the magisterial Reo Hatate marking his derby debut with a brace before Liel Abada snaffled a third.
But if it wasn’t for Rangers’ evergreen shot-stopper, it could have been a cricket score by half-time.
McGregor, who turned 40 on Monday, brilliantly denied a Filipe Jota snapshot. And, on another day, the unfortunate Giorgios Giakoumakis could have had a hat-trick if it wasn’t for the Scot’s typically feline reflexes.
Will Celtic now take back Rangers’ crown?
“I’m very proud of the lads, I thought our first half was outstanding,” beams Postecoglou.
“We scored our three goals but the football we played was just brilliant and we could have had a few more.
“Allan McGregor was outstanding in their goa. In the second half we had to defend a bit more but even then I think we showed that side of, that we can defend if we need to.
“Full credit to the players, it’s a big game and we knew the consequences. There was pressure on us, there’s been pressure on us all along, but I just thought they handled it superbly.”
Delivering Rangers just their second league defeat since pre-COVID times, Postecoglou’s scintillating Celtic have now leapfrogged their city rivals in the Scottish Premiership table.
What’s more, they now have a goal difference advantage of 10 as January signing Hatate followed up his long-range thunderbolt against Hearts with two more outside-of-the-box efforts in front of a raucous Parkhead crowd.
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