Hamza Igamane's stunning late strike gave Rangers derby victory over CelticSNS

Hamza Igamane's stunning late strike gave Rangers derby victory over Celtic

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park

Rangers enjoyed a second bout of raucous celebrations in four days as Hamza Igamane's stunning late strike administered Celtic's first Scottish Premiership home defeat since December 2023.

Barry Ferguson's side had roared into a two-goal half-time lead after Nico Raskin's early flicked header and Mohamed Diomande's low shot.

However, as the effects of Thursday's epic Europa League win over Fenerbahce began to tell, title-chasing Celtic hit back with Daizen Maeda's towering header and and Reo Hatate's slotted finish.

That set up a frantic finale, in which it seemed the league leaders had the momentum, but it was Rangers who found the decisive goal.

Igamane profited from Alistair Johnston's slip to lash in an outrageous winner to give the Ibrox side their first victory at Celtic Park since 2020.

The success moves Rangers to within 13 points of their Glasgow rivals, who now may have to wait until after the Premiership splits next month to clinch the title.

A superb, high-energy first-half performance from Rangers threatened to blow their hosts away, as they exploited the injury-enforced absences of Celtic captain Callum McGregor and centre-backs Auston Trusty and Liam Scales.

That meant Maik Nawrocki came in for his first start of the season, having had just 23 minutes of cup football this term.

And the recast defence took just four minutes to concede when Raskin got above Jeffrey Schlupp to flick in James Tavernier's corner.

By the time Diomande, unmarked inside the box, found Kasper Schmeichel's right-hand corner just before the break, Rangers could have been even further ahead.

Unusually edgy goalkeeper Schmeichel had earlier passed straight to Vaclav Cerny, only for the Czech international to delay shooting and waste the chance.

Two down at the interval, Celtic needed to respond positively and they did.

Maeda, shifted to the flank to accommodate the interval introduction of Adam Idah, leapt high above Tavernier to head in Jota's cross just after the restart.

A well-worked team goal then drew Brendan Rodgers' side level, when Luke McCowan set up Hatate to slip a finish across Jack Butland and into the net.

It looked like the reigning champions could go on and secure the comeback win that would leave them just two victories from retaining the title.

But instead it was Igamane who struck, condemning Celtic to a first domestic home defeat since the league loss to Hearts in December 2023.

Statement win for Rangers?

Rangers fans celebrate on return to Celtic Park

Rangers will feel they fully merited this win - their second derby triumph in a row after the January victory at Ibrox.

They'll also feel it's a statement victory at the home of the champions-elect after so many struggles on the domestic front.

Their energy-sapping encounter with Fenerbahce didn't stop them from putting in a high-octane, high-pressing performance that made a normally unflappable Celtic side completely lose their cool in the first half.

Two up at half-time, it could well have been more.

To watch Celtic come back to level would have been a blow, but for Rangers to still have the desire and energy to go on and win the game means huge credit should go to the players and the interim management team.

Shaky Celtic pay for slow start

This was very much a game of two halves for Celtic.

In the first, they were incredibly shaky at the back and seemed unable to cope with the absence of two key players, captain McGregor and centre-half Trusty.

Usually a picture of calm, even Schmeichel made uncharacteristic mistakes.

Much-improved after the break, it looked like Celtic may have enough to go on and win, but they lacked their normal levels of quality and composure.

Celtic will still go on to win the league, but right now they must deal with the unusual feeling of the bitter sting of derby defeat at home.

What did they say?

Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson: "We knew Celtic would come at us. At 2-2, I think about the things me and my staff have been on to the players about. You need a different side to your game at Rangers and one of those big words is character. They showed that so much today.

"I knew there was a good team here. They were just missing a bit of self-belief, they had to be driven on a bit more, and that's what we've done as a staff. The boys listen, they tune in, and over the past 10 days you've certainly seen the benefits of that."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "When we get the second, it feels like the momentum is there. At that point we were in a good place, in control. Worst case scenario, we should take a point.

"The three goals we conceded were disappointing from our perspective, so it's a sore one. Performance-wise, we need to be better with and without the ball.

"We needed to show more personality to take the ball. We made too many mistakes and allowed ourselves to be pressed."

'We need to show more personality' - Rodgers

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