Rangers Close Gap on Celtic After Crucial Parkhead Victory

Rangers manager Derek McInnes has declared his team will continue to pursue Celtic in the league standings following a significant victory at Parkhead. A single goal from Ryan Naderi in the first half proved decisive, securing three points for Rangers and reducing the deficit to their rivals to two points before the international break.

This win marks a notable achievement for McInnes, who becomes the first Rangers manager since Graeme Souness to win his first two Old Firm derbies. The victory follows their recent 3-0 triumph over Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals last week.

McInnes expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their ability to secure a win in a challenging environment. "I’m absolutely delighted as I thought it was a thoroughly deserved three points," he stated. "In the context of the season, it was very important."

He acknowledged the potential impact of falling further behind in the league. "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 also emphasized the importance of the win for the confidence of his young squad.

Despite the 1-0 scoreline, McInnes believed Rangers could have extended their lead. "Although we won 1-0, we should have scored more and added to it. While it’s 1-0, Celtic are always going to keep going in front of their own fans."

The manager praised his team's defensive efforts throughout the match. "We defended brilliantly as a team and winning here is another good reference point for us after last week."

McInnes noted that it is still early in the season, with ample opportunity for further shifts in the standings. "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. But to back up last week’s performance and result was really big for us."

Rangers have now won six consecutive matches across all competitions, a streak that includes five clean sheets, following a prior European setback against Jablonec. McInnes feels his players have demonstrated a growing trust and capacity to perform in significant matches.

"We have come a long way since that night (against Jablonec)," he said. "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."

Despite the positive result, McInnes admitted he was not entirely calm during the match, acknowledging Celtic's attacking talent and the possibility of them creating chances. The team also faced challenges with player injuries late in the game, including ankle, calf, and hamstring issues, particularly when all substitutions had been made.

"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," McInnes observed. He believes the team now possesses the necessary cutting edge and togetherness.

Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya, who was named man of the match, attributed the team's success to their strong bond. "We expected a tough game, we had to be 100-per-cent focused. 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."