Rangers extend Old Firm dominance as O'Neill faces mounting pressure
Rangers secured a 1‑0 victory over Celtic at Celtic Park on 20 September 2026, with Ryan Naderi’s 33rd‑minute strike sealing the third consecutive defeat for the Hoops and intensifying scrutiny of 74‑year‑old manager Martin O'Neill in front of a vocal Glasgow crowd.
Goal and key moments
Ryan Naderi opened the scoring in the 33 Min after a James Penrice corner from the left found Kim Min‑su, whose 20‑yard drive was parried by Viljami Sinisalo before the striker tapped the rebound home. The goal followed an early chance when Djeidi Gassama sprinted behind the defence but failed to finish. A subsequent header from Liam Scales was ruled out for offside after Auston Trusty had the ball in the net.
Celtic defender Emmanuel Fernandez was booked for a foul on Camilo Duran as he raced down the right flank, and his challenges later forced the Hoops into a series of corners. Kieran Tierney clipped the top of Ivor Pandur’s cross‑bar with a powerful drive, while Kevin Kelsy’s follow‑up after Gassama’s chip was blocked by Cameron Carter‑Vickers. Neil’s cut‑back later forced the Hoops defence into panic, but the resulting corner produced no danger.
At the start of the second half Martin O'Neill introduced striker Kasper Hogh for Luke McCowan, and Rangers responded quickly with Pandur making a fine save from a Colby Donovan header. Viljami Sinisalo again denied a Penrice drive, and Naderi missed a simple header from close range. Kim Min‑su fired wide from distance as the visitors pressed for a second goal.
Implications for the Old Firm race
The win moved Rangers two points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership as the clubs head into the international break. A ticket‑allocation dispute had seen only Rangers fans at Ibrox the previous week and only Celtic supporters at Celtic Park, adding to the tension surrounding the derby.
Martin O'Neill, who is 74, entered the match after a bruising 3‑0 Premier Sports Cup loss to the Gers at Ibrox last Sunday, and the defeat deepens the pressure on his tenure. Celtic’s recent form, with three straight losses, leaves the manager with limited time to reverse the slide before the season’s crucial stages.
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RANGERS supporters celebrated the result, while the club looks to maintain momentum ahead of the next league fixtures. The next challenge will test whether the side can sustain its superiority as the Old Firm rivalry intensifies.