Last Thursday brought a wave of excitement for Rangers fans as their team finally managed to defeat Celtic after years of disappointment. The victory at Ibrox left supporters elated, seemingly signaling a potential shift in fortunes. However, by the end of Sunday’s fixtures, it became clear that the triumph was fleeting, as the familiar dominance of Celtic reasserted itself.
Rangers failed to capitalize on their momentum, dropping points against Hibernian in a midday clash, while Celtic secured a decisive victory over St Mirren, extending their Premiership lead to a commanding 13 points. The juxtaposition of these results served as a stark reminder of the consistency required to challenge Celtic’s supremacy. Philippe Clement, Rangers’ manager, faced criticism for his tactical approach, particularly the decision to rest key players before the New Year derby, a move that cost them valuable points in prior matches.
Stephen McGinn, a former midfielder, did not hold back in his assessment of Clement’s strategy. Speaking candidly, McGinn argued that focusing on beating Celtic at the expense of other games is a flawed approach for a team like Rangers. “He sacrificed the week before the derby just to win the Celtic game,” McGinn remarked. “That’s not how it works at Rangers. Every game is as important as the other. Big wins are great, but the ultimate goal has to be regaining the league title from Celtic.”
Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers’ leadership, continues to demonstrate the discipline and consistency needed to remain champions. Rodgers, a seasoned manager who has experienced this level of competition before, expressed satisfaction with his team’s position. Following the win against St Mirren, he highlighted the club’s achievements halfway through the season. “From an excellent pre-season to a strong European campaign, and now winning the first cup of the season, we are in a really good spot,” Rodgers said. His focus on long-term success underscores why Celtic remains the team to beat.
As the season progresses, Celtic’s dominance and Rangers’ struggles raise pressing questions. Can Celtic maintain their momentum to secure the league title by a significant margin, or perhaps even clinch a Treble? For Rangers, the challenge lies in fostering the consistency and resilience needed to close the gap. Only time will reveal if Clement can adapt and bring lasting change to the team. Until then, Celtic continues to set the benchmark in Scottish football 
hopefully