Rangers closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to two points as Ryan Naderi scored the winner in a 1-0 victory at Parkhead.
A solitary first-half goal from Naderi was enough to secure all three points for the visitors ahead of the international break, blowing the title race wide open.
The result follows a 3-0 victory over Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals last weekend at Ibrox. With back-to-back derby wins, Derek McInnes became the first Rangers manager since Graeme Souness to win his first two Old Firm matches in charge.
McInnes expressed delight at seeing his team back up their performance at Ibrox with another victory over a Celtic side facing internal pressure despite remaining at the top of the table. The Ibrox manager insisted that the scoreline at Parkhead ought to have been more emphatic given Rangers' dominance over the 90 minutes.
Speaking after the match, McInnes highlighted the importance of the result for his team's confidence and league standing.
"I'm absolutely delighted as I thought it was a thoroughly deserved three points," McInnes said. "In the context of the season, it was very important. We'd have heard all about it if we'd lost and the gap was stretched to eight points at this early stage. That would have been uncomfortable for us."
McInnes added: "So it was important to close that gap and also, with such a young squad, having the belief and confidence to win a game in this environment."
Dominance and defensive resilience at Parkhead
While pleased with the victory, McInnes felt Rangers should have converted more of their chances to avoid a nervous finish. "Although we won 1-0, we should have scored more and added to it," he said. "While it's 1-0, Celtic are always going to keep going in front of their own fans."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill attempted multiple tactical adjustments in search of a late equalizer. "Martin was trying everything to make something happen for them and you always feel Celtic will get a big chance. Very rarely is that not the case," McInnes said. "But we defended brilliantly as a team and winning here is another good reference point for us after last week."
Despite closing the gap at the top, McInnes cautioned against early title talk with most of the season still ahead. "It's still early in the season, only September, and there's 80-odd points still to play for, so no one is getting carried away," he insisted. "But to back up last week's performance and result was really big for us."
He added: "We're still in September but we need to keep winning, that's the demand here. It's just steps of encouragement for ourselves and the supporters. There's something to work with and hopefully we can have a strong campaign."
Six-game winning run following European defeat
The triumph at Parkhead continues a remarkable recovery for Rangers following their humiliating European loss against Czech outfit Jablonec earlier this season. McInnes's side has now reeled off six consecutive wins across all competitions, keeping five clean sheets during that stretch.
McInnes praised the growing trust between himself and his players since that setback. "We have come a long way since that night," McInnes said, referencing the defeat to Jablonec. "I feel as though I have had a trust with my team over the last few weeks. I feel we have developed that trust. I cannot have a team that I don't trust. And I feel as though I've had that in the last few weeks."
However, the Rangers boss acknowledged that watching the closing stages from the touchline remained tense, particularly given Celtic's attacking depth.
"I wouldn't say I was totally calm," McInnes conceded. "When you see the talent that Celtic have invested in at the top end of the pitch, with other guys who have been over the course, you always know there is maybe a chance in them."
Late injuries test Rangers' resolve
Rangers were forced to hold out in the closing stages while managing several injury problems. James Penrice suffered an ankle problem, Dan Neil felt his calf, and Dujon Sterling was hampered by a hamstring issue. Midfielder Cammy Devlin also sustained a hamstring injury in the final five minutes after Rangers had used all their allowed substitutions.
"We didn't have our troubles to seek in that last part so it was a big effort from everybody to get over the line," McInnes said. "Defensively we were excellent."
Tensions had spilled over earlier in the match on the touchline, where McInnes was involved in an early flashpoint with Celtic coach Mark Fotheringham.
Addressing the team's defensive improvement, McInnes stressed that backline stability has been central to their turnaround. "Trust is the most important thing for me. I need to trust my team and trust individuals within it," he explained. "I don't want to be a manager who doesn't trust my team and I wasn't sure where we were at the start."
"Slowly but surely we've got that," McInnes added. "The clean sheets underpin all that. The biggest drain of confidence is losing bad goals. The determination to keep the ball out of our net, while playing with real attacking verve, is something we didn't have in the first few games of the season."
Building momentum for the title challenge
McInnes pointed to a shift in mentality compared to the opening weeks of the campaign. "I know we beat St Mirren 5-1 but other than that we weren't playing with a panache or swagger," he noted. "A Rangers team has got to show its teeth at the right time and have a cutting edge, and we didn't have that at the start of the season. I think we have that now, albeit we only scored one today. We have good togetherness and a good squad."
He added: "It's only three points and it's the same three points as the next time out when we play. But I do think it's a good reference point, that when you come to a tough environment like this, that the players dealt with it. I thought they would, to be honest. I felt there was a quiet confidence and belief coming here. I didn't think we'd go under with the pressure of it all. But obviously you don't know until you know. And obviously the players dealt with it."
Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya was named man of the match after an outstanding performance at the back. He highlighted the close bond among the squad as key to their defensive display.
"We expected a tough game, we had to be 100-per-cent focused," Makhanya said. "Defensively, I'm really happy with how we played. It's the togetherness. We spend a lot of time together outside training, getting coffee and things like that. I feel like we're a family. That gives us a reason to keep on fighting for one another."
