Rangers' Title Race Momentum After Wins Over Celtic

Rangers’ back‑to‑back wins over Celtic have jolted the title race – and lit a fire under the fanbase.

Two victories in the space of a week have dragged Derek McInnes’ side to within two points of their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and the mood among Rangers supporters has flipped from cautious hope to open conviction.

“The beginning for Rangers – the beginning of the end for Celtic”

For Derek, this feels like a turning of the tide.

"It's the beginning for Rangers and the beginning of the end for Celtic," he says, sensing a shift in power as much as in points. What excites him is not just the result, but the identity taking shape: a team built on work rate and physicality, but now playing with growing confidence.

Direct. Powerful. Relentless running. A strong bond. That’s the Rangers he recognises.

Up front, Ryan Naderi embodies that message. He has been “superb”, in Derek’s words, the spearhead for a side that suddenly looks like it believes in every duel. Behind him, Olwethu Makhanya has already been elevated in supporters’ minds – “an incredible signing and unflappable” at the back.

A performance to “silence Parkhead”

Louise arrived at Parkhead wondering if lightning could strike twice. It did.

“I had wondered if a repeat of last weekend was possible, but what a performance again from Rangers,” she says. The spine of the team stood out: Makhanya and Naderi again drawing praise, Dan Neil dictating the midfield tempo, and Dujon Sterling delivering what she calls his best display in a Rangers shirt.

The scoreline stayed tight, but the sense from the away end was that it could have been brutal.

“If we had taken our chances and had a bit more quality in the final third it could have been a cricket score,” Louise insists. One goal, though, proved enough – enough to quieten Parkhead, enough to send a clear message in the title race.

For her, this is about maturity as much as momentum. “This team have grown up very quickly and have now shown what they are capable of,” she says, urging patience and backing for McInnes. Whatever comes next, she believes the manager has “made his mark” and must be allowed to build.

Midfield masters and a missed lesson for Celtic

Sally’s focus is on the engine room. Last week, she saw Dan Neil run the show. This time, it was Nico Raskin’s turn to take control.

“Last week it was Dan Neil running the midfield, this week it was Nico Raskin,” she notes, pointing to a Rangers side now boasting multiple players capable of bossing the biggest fixture in the country.

Up top, Naderi again drew superlatives – “outstanding” in her eyes – while Djeidi Gassama came agonisingly close to adding his own moment, “so unlucky” with his effort on goal.

What really surprises her lies in the dugouts. McInnes stuck to his approach. Celtic, she feels, failed to adapt. “I was surprised McInnes did not change his tactics and that Celtic did not learn from last week's result,” she says, a damning verdict on the champions’ inability to respond to a blueprint that had just undone them.

Makhanya wins over the doubters

Chris admits he wasn’t convinced by Makhanya at first. That doubt didn’t last long.

“Wasn't too sure of Makhanya when he first signed,” he says, but the latest display changed everything. He describes the defender’s afternoon as if it were “a kick about in the back garden with the kids” – controlled, calm, almost casual in the chaos of an Old Firm clash.

The moment that really stuck with him didn’t even count. The finish for Makhanya’s disallowed goal? “Absolutely stunning.”

Two wins, two points in it, and a Rangers side suddenly playing with purpose, personality and bite. If this is only the beginning, how far can McInnes take them – and how long before Celtic find an answer?