There have been 17 meetings since this latest period of total dominance began with Ange Postecoglou’s arrival in Glasgow. Of those 1,560 minutes (including extra time in the 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final), Rangers were in front for just 154 minutes, with 85 of those minutes played in a deadlocked derby two seasons ago when Celtic had already won the Premiership. title.
Rangers scored first in just three of those 17 games since Postecoglou and then Rodgers took a vice-like grip on things.
Kyogo, who scored eight goals, was the headliner for many days, but McGregor was the man who put it all together. Very few Rangers teams had the first clue to stop him dictating the tempo and shaping the outcome.
And so, when the seasoned observer of the Ibrox scene stopped for a chat on Thursday, his Sunday mantra was to score the first goal, which he failed to do in an Old Firm derby of proper value – sorry to all the Rangers people, but the score is 3-0 in May 2023 was as irrelevant as those games – from April 2022. The goal was scored by Aaron Ramsey.
Of course, the first goal scored didn’t go too well for Rangers on the day. They were still beaten. At times, in parts of games or entire games, Rangers played well. Last season they played bravely in the Scottish Cup final but lost. Last May, after John Lundstram was sent off, they played decently but lost 2-1.
In the previous match they showed great resilience and drew 3-3. They probably should have won at Ibrox in January 2023, but Kyogo equalized two minutes from time.
Rangers have not won an Old Firm derby in six attempts. In three years they have one win in 13 and three in 17. Are we seeing a combination of more convincing Rangers? Perhaps, but Celtic are always the real test of that and remain hot favourites.
Somehow Clement will need to ensure his boys are on the same emotional level at Hampden as they are at Ibrox, while increasing the accuracy and ruthlessness of their play.
Rangers are considering John Souttar’s availability as they try to plan an Old Firm whack-a-mole. Dealing with Maeda and Kyogo comes in, dealing with Kyogo and Nicolas Kuhn becomes their problem, dealing with Kuhn and Adam Idah comes off the bench and does it at the death just like he did at Hampden in May.
Thursday certainly removed the last of the wolves from under Clement’s door, the growling ones who wanted him gone. But he knows, as everyone else knows, that the only way to get rid of them permanently is to impose one on his biggest rivals.
For your own reputation and the dynamics of your team. Rangers really need to win this trophy. What Rangers needed was never something that interested Celtic. With grace or grunt, they almost always find a way to win. And it’s hard to see them stop now.
