SEVENTH HEAVEN
Rangers 3 Celtic 0: Philippe Clement eases pressure and FINALLY gets win over Hoops at seventh attempt
Some of the intense heat on Philippe Clement has lifted thanks to a thumping derby win over Celtic
IN the long run, it’s an Old Firm victory that’ll count for nothing.
But for Philippe Clement and every Rangers fan, this was a derby win over Celtic that meant absolutely everything.
![Rangers’ Ianis Hagi celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game during the William Hill Premiership match at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. Picture date: Thursday January 2, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Rangers. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior […]](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/crop-14105605_359346.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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It’s been a long time coming for both the Belgian and every supporter with the club at heart.
Yet at a time when he needed a performance and result more than ever, Clement finally got it.
This was his seventh attempt at beating Brendan Rodgers who’s pretty much had things his own way in this fixture.
But not today, he didn’t.
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Celtic may still look certain to retain the Premiership title with the gap at the top of the table 11 points.
But whatever happens in the coming weeks and months, Rangers at least showed they’re refusing to lose out without a fight.
Ianis Hagi, Robin Propper and Danilo scored the goals in front of 51,000 supporters, but there was much, much more to this victory than that.
They were better in every department all over the pitch with a level of desire and will-to-win that did their club proud.
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This has to be the benchmark for Clement’s team if he’s to remain in the job for the foreseeable future.
But for now at least he should be allowed to enjoy this victory that takes the pressure off him.
Celtic were so bad in the first-half Rodgers really could have taken off any player in a green and white jersey and they could have had no complaint.
Liam Scales passed the ball like he was on a bonus for giving it away.
Reo Hatate so far off the pace it was untrue.
Even skipper Callum McGregor, so often the man who runs this fixture, looked unrecognisable out there.
But for all that, Rangers were exceptional. Raskin led the way in midfield with Mohamed Diomande outstanding.
For a team that’s been so dire at times this season, they were clearly out to prove their critics and doubters wrong.
When it came to the opening goal, it was dreadful from a Celtic perceptive
Scales played a ball into midfield that was just asking for trouble.
Raskin, Clement’s captain for the day with James Tavernier and Jack Butland both missing, was onto it in a flash.
The midfielder then burst forward before leaving it for Hagi to do the rest.
Initially Kasper Schmeichel looked culpable.
But give credit where credit is due, it was a tremendous shot from Hagi.
His wild run towards the dugout and knee-slide celebration was one of a man whose come through a frustrating time at Ibrox in recent months.
And his old man, Gheorge, was sitting in the main stand and he would have been proud of the hit himself.
That moment came after only seven minutes and it gave Rangers the foundation to build on - especially with Celtic miles off it.
The home side were largely unthreatened.
Liam Kelly was between the sticks, due to Butland’s absence, but he only had one real save to make seconds before the break when he beat away a shot from Hatate.
Rangers failure to get a second goal was one that would have worried their supporters.
They watched Cerny hit the crossbar with a deflected shot off Cameron Carter-Vickers with a number of other promising attacks.
You could only imagine Rodgers at the interval, emphasising how poorly his side had played and yet they were only one goal behind.
On the flip side, Clement would have been concentrating on the positives while being anxious that Celtic were likely to improve.
A moment right before the break - which saw Raskin booked for squaring up to McGregor - brought abuse for referee Don Robertson.
The official really could do no right in the eyes of the home support.
McGregor was already on a booking and they wanted the Celtic skipper shown a second yellow card and a red for his involvement in the flashpoint.
But the former Scotland star did very little wrong, other than get a rise out of Raskin to see him riled into a caution.
The fact Rodgers didn’t make any changes to his line-up at the break was hugely surprising.
But there was an initial improvement after the restart.
Kyogo came up with a sensational finish to beat Kelly in 52 minutes but the striker has just made his run a split second too early and was called off-side so the goal didn’t stand.
That was the warning Rangers had to heed.
The match wasn’t won yet and if they thought it was then they could live to regret it.
Could Cerny have done better when he ran through one on one with Schmeichel and hit the post on the hour mark?
He initially looked off-side but the flag stayed down and it was a huge, huge chance.
Another effort on target from the Czech winger brought a good stop from Schmeichel.
But it was coming, Rangers’ second goal. And in 66 minutes it arrived.
A corner swung into the box was headed on target by Raskin and when it was cleared off the line by substitute Adam Idah Propper was there to blast home.
Even then Rangers didn’t sit back and in 81 minutes Danilo hit the net with a brilliant finish to seal Celtic’s fate.
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There was an ugly incident before the end when Celtic sub Arne Engels was seemingly struck by an object thrown from the stands as he waited to take a corner.
Soon came the final whistle with Rangers well worth their win.
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