Kenny Miller says Rangers paid a heavy price after failing to do their homework on Celtic’s rampant rookies.
Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst suffered his first defeat since replacing Steven Gerrard as the swarming Hoops ran in three goals during a first-half bltiz.
While Gers had just Amad Diallo and Calvin Bassey making their derby debuts, Ange Postecoglou’s team saw five players lining up for Old Firm action for the first time.
But the extra experience in the Rangers ranks made no difference as they were blown away by a Celtic display which had Parkhead rocking.
Former Rangers hero Miller, however, admits he can’t quite fathom how van Bronckhorst and his team failed to foresee that their bitter rivals would come out all guns blazing given all glut of available evidence showcasing the Hoops’ commitment to Postecoglou’s full-throttle tactics.
“I can’t believe Rangers came into the game as if they were shell-shocked at Celtic starting fast,” said Miller.
“It’s been a trademark of their game.
“You’ve had 20-odd games of evidence of how Celtic want to play. And I think, with the greatest of respect to them and as good as they were last night, I still think if you can get after Celtic, like Rangers did in spells in the second half, you can win the ball off them high up the pitch.
“There was something missing. One of the things going into the game that I thought would’ve been in Rangers’ favour was that those players have been over the course and distance.
“It was five debutants Celtic had in their team. I thought that might’ve played into Rangers’ favour, but they looked shell-shocked.
“They didn’t look prepared for what was going to be coming at them. They never got to grips with those rotations with the full-backs going inside and the number eights dropping out.”
Rangers had no answer as Reo Hatate struck twice before teeing up Liel Abada for the third.
They’ve now spilled seven points over the last four games to hand Celtic the Premiership lead.
And Miller fears Gers have caught another dose of second-half-of-the-season syndrome after repeating their post-winter blues that afflicted Steven Gerrard’s reign in charge.
“My concern is this looks like the third year in four when Rangers have not done well after the break,” he told talkSPORT. “In Steven Gerrard’s first two seasons they were right in the mix and then in the second half of the season they wheels fell off.
“Last season was the exception, they were relentless from start to finish.
“Now they have come back, had four games and got five points out of 12. That’s not championship-winning form.
“The concern would be there’s maybe that little hangover after the break.
“Even before it there were a couple of games where they weren’t quite top gear.
“Rangers now need to react, simple as that. They must go to Ibrox on Sunday and they must get three points against Hearts. Nothing less will suffice.”
The Ibrox faithful were in raptures on Monday night as the club unveiled the shock loan capture of Juventus star Aaron Ramsey.
But fitness issues meant he was suited and booted in the stands as Gers had their pants pulled down at Celtic Park.
And Miller admits he was shocked the Welsh ace didn’t have enough in his tank even for a late cameo.
He said: “I was surprised and a wee bit disappointed. I get it, he has not been brought for this one game, he has been brought to secure another title.
“If they feel they have to protect him so he is ready for the last 15 or 16 games of the season then I get it.
“But having him on the bench would have been a big lift.
“If he had been able to come on for the last 20 minutes. I was disappointed not to see him.
“With a signing of that magnitude, that is why you come to these clubs, to play in these games.
“There are a lot of league points to be won, another two Old Firm games to play and hopefully Aaron will play his part in securing enough points to get back to the top of the league.”
