Rangers extended their lead to 19 points with victory over Celtic
Barry Ferguson says Rangers’ victory over Celtic on Saturday was reminiscent of Walter Smith’s derby successes.
In Smith’s ’90s heyday Rangers were known for soaking up pressure in derbies and coming out on top, and Ferguson saw something of that Smith mentality in Steven Gerrard’s side at the weekend.
Celtic were dominant throughout the first half as they chased a vital win, but were repelled by a superb Allan McGregor.
Gerrard’s men capitalised on Celtic’s failure to convert their pressure into goals, eventually winning 1-0 despite not registering a single shot on target.
That result leaves Rangers 19 points ahead of their rivals in the title race, and few give Neil Lennon’s men much hope of reining the league leaders in.
Ferguson was managed by Smith in the former Scotland and Everton boss’ second spell at Ibrox, and believes the current crop of Rangers stars emulated some of Smith’s most memorable derby successes by finding a way to win while being outplayed.
Writing in Record Sport, Ferguson said: “It wasn’t a vintage performance from Rangers but to win in the manner they did, strangely, can be more satisfying – and more damaging psychologically for the opposition.
“I’ve been in the position myself where you sit down in the dressing room after a game and ask yourself ‘How on earth have we just won that?’ – but sometimes they’re the best victories.
“I’ve been on the receiving end of a few doings but at least when that happens you know where you have to improve. But if you dominate and lose then it’s more frustrating.
“And the Celtic players would have boarded their flight to Dubai for their mini-break asking themselves the opposite, and wondering how they lost it.
“That’s the best I’ve seen Celtic play all season but winners find a way to win games of football when they aren’t playing at the levels they’re accustomed to.
“As a player, you know after five or 10 minutes if you’re not really on it and it’s then about how you dig out a result and that comes from togetherness and belief.
“And that was the most pleasing aspect of Rangers’ win. It showed a different side to Rangers which has been previously missing because they probably wouldn’t have got the three points in previous seasons.
“Rangers have had three setbacks this season – draws at Hibs and Livingston in the league and defeat to St Mirren in the Betfred Cup. And they’ve responded on each occasion.
“This time they reacted within the game. Celtic came and had a go and as the game went on I thought to myself if Rangers could get the win then it could be the most satisfying victory they could get.
“Steven Gerrard, Allan McGregor and Leon Balogun all said after the game it was a poor performance but they dug deep and got the three points and in four weeks’ time nobody will care how they played.
“Gerrard said himself that nobody stops him in the street to say how well they played in last season’s Betfred Cup final.
“They ran over the top of Celtic at Hampden but Celtic lifted the trophy because they knew how to grind results out. There is a definite shift in mindset in this Rangers team and it comes from a lot of hard work on the training ground.
“They were pinned back by Celtic but the spirit was still there and they were solid.
“Keeper McGregor obviously produced big saves and everyone knows how I feel about him after waxing lyrical about my old team-mate in previous columns.
“But that’s why you have big players in the team. When that ball left Leigh Griffiths’ left peg for that early chance the Celtic striker would have thought it was going into the top corner and McGregor is the reason Rangers got three points.
“But as a team they had to show a togetherness when it wasn’t going their way and that’s what they did.
“Celtic have shown it during their nine-in-a-row row and it was a trait of Walter Smith’s sides too.”
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