adminDerek McInnes has emphasised the importance of using Rangers’ commanding 3-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over Celtic as a “reference point” for the remainder of the season.
The home side controlled proceedings throughout at Ibrox in front of more than 51,000 home supporters – away fans were excluded – to book a semi-final meeting with Aberdeen at Hampden next month.
A brace from man-of-the-match Dan Neil bookended an Old Firm debut goal for striker Kevin Kelsy as the hosts swept Martin O’Neill’s side aside. It was a much-needed statement from Derek McInnes’ team following a difficult opening to the campaign.
Momentum is now building after five consecutive victories. Rangers travel to Parkhead next Sunday in the league with the pressure having suddenly shifted onto the hosts.
“I felt the performance we gave today was the performance we required to overcome a team like Celtic,” said McInnes. “I am delighted about the performance of so many today. I don’t think we had a failure. And that is what it takes to win. It is a good reference for us going forward.
“Obviously we have to take the good from the game, and the feel-good factor,” he added. “We look forward to the semi-final when it comes round but equally we have to be ready for the next one (v Celtic).
You saw the strength of the club today, both on and the pitch and off it. It does my players no harm at all. For the ones who have been here, they will understand what it means to so many people. But the ones who are just in the building, it’s a good reference for them to see what this result means.”
One of those new arrivals is Neil, the stand-in captain for the injured Lawrence Shankland. The midfielder has had to overcome questions over his ability to represent Rangers, let alone lead the team. But he emphatically silenced those still doubting his value with an outstanding display featuring a goal in either half.
Praise for Rangers skipper
“Dan will be highlighted for his goals, and his two goals were brilliant – different types of finishes,” said McInnes. “We knew we could occupy that space on the edge of the box at times and if we attacked properly and looked after the ball and forced Celtic back, then that space might develop.
“You still need people to step up and show that quality. Dan did exactly that. He gets the light shone on him today because of the goals. But his performance was really strong as well, as was Nico (Raskin) and wee James (Penrice). The three of them were terrific. They played a big part in us getting some sort of ascendancy in the game.”
McInnes recognised the improvement in performance compared with the defeat to Jablonec in a Conference League play-off qualifying tie just two-and-a-half weeks earlier, the lowest point of his brief and occasionally difficult managerial spell so far.
“It is the one defeat we have had in the last eight games,” he pointed out. “It was a sore one. The performance that night was in complete contras to today. It was a big game for us as a club and to deliver such a lacklustre performance….(it was) a performance I didn’t want to put my name to, but I had to. I had to deal with it. I knew the consequences.
“To be honest, we did not look ready. Even though we were getting a couple of wins here and there, we did not look ready. We should have been. There is a shared responsibility but the majority lands on me.
“The performance today was exactly what was required,” he continued. “We have come quite a long way since that game you mentioned. But you also see the magic ingredient of confidence in the players, just winning games. The criticism will come again if we don’t win again next Sunday. But for a young team, I think it is important to take the good from the game and try and use it. We look as if we are up and running now and hopefully we can get improvements.
The manager’s attention had already turned towards next weekend’s rematch at Parkhead, Rangers’ next fixture after their European exit. “Obviously we will analyse this game,” he said. “Likewise, Celtic might come up with something different as well. So I think we take each game separately.
“Sometimes tactics can be overplayed and sometimes can be looked at too much to deliver a winning performance. What normally wins games is individual performances and individual moments more than tactics. And what we had today was big performances. It would be more of that we are hoping to replicate, big performances, regardless of how we set up.
admin
