Fans can accept defeat in a derby. But NOT in the manner that Rangers went down to Celtic at Parkhead with a meek display at Parkhead. It was a repeat of the kind of performance produced in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first game in charge in the east end of Glasgow and that is what frustrated the Dutchman.
On the morning of the match, former Ibrox skipper Richard Gough posted on Instagram of his first taste of the Old Firm derby. He netted a last-gasp leveller as the Light Blues salvaged an unlikely point with just nine men at Ibrox. Gough epitomised that never-say-die spirit of the Rangers team of that era.
And that is what is most angering the Rangers fans following their 4-0 loss to their rivals and Scottish Premiership champions. It is the fact they barely laid a glove on the Hoops, just as they did back in February. Van Bronckhorst spoke of his anger that repeated the mistakes that proved so costly on that occasion.
The derby fixture requires big characters and leaders, especially when going into the lion’s den that is Celtic Park. And one moment was highlighted that showed how that was missing from Van Bronckhorst’s side.
Jordan Campbell, the Rangers correspondent for The Athletic, took to Twitter to highlight an incident that should have alarm bells ringing. It came after goals were conceded from Rangers players switching off - yet two of Rangers’ most experienced players were guilty again.
He wrote: “I kid you not, when (Jon) McLaughlin made the save from Jota a minute before (Liel) Abada made it three, (James) Tavernier and (Connor) Goldson spent a good five seconds blaming each other while Celtic went to take it quickly again. Quite incredible lack of responsibility being shown here compared to Celtic.”
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