Daizen Maeda’s awful defending against Celtic left Neil Lennon stunned as he let Robin Propper score Rangers’ second goal.

Nico Raskin’s first attempt was blocked, and the ball deflected to the head of the Rangers center-back, who doubled the Ibrox team’s advantage. The Dutchman was waiting at the back post.

Philippe Clement’s team won the match 3-0, cutting their lead into 11 points from 14 to take first position.

Lennon, the former Celtic manager, discussed his opinions on the Celtic attacker’s defensive play live on Sky Sports Main Event on January 2, at 5:20 p.m.

It’s startling. Maeda releases him. He said, “It’s a free header from a corner.”

At Ibrox, Rangers are significantly better than Celtic.

In their Scottish Premiership loss to the Gers on January 2, Maeda, like his teammates, had a fairly bad game.

There was really little expectation going into the game that Rangers would perform as well as they did.

It not only shown that the Gers are capable of playing at a respectable level, but it also suggested that, if their play continues, they may be in the running for the championship at the conclusion of the season.

Of course, the Gers and Celtic still have a huge point differential, but if Brendan Rodgers’ team makes a few more mistakes like this, Clement’s team could have a chance to contend for the championship at the conclusion of the season.

This, in fact, is precisely what viewers have been hoping for since the start of the season.

Seven Rangers vs. Celtic flashpoints are evaluated by the top referee, who makes one thing very plain regarding Don Robertson.

Don Robertson Steers Clear of Controversy as Rangers Triumph 3-0 Over Celtic

Don Robertson took charge at Ibrox as Rangers secured a resounding 3-0 victory over their arch-rivals, Celtic. This time, there will be no angry letters flying from Govan to Hampden’s fifth floor, nor will under-pressure manager Philippe Clement face any threats to his position. The Belgian coach orchestrated a long-awaited derby win, potentially salvaging his tenure in style.

From Controversy to Control

Following December’s Premier Sports Cup Final, where Rangers publicly criticized VAR officials Alan Muir and Frank Connor for a missed penalty decision, the SFA came under heavy fire. This time, the officiating team, led by Don Robertson with VAR support from Nick Walsh, successfully managed a highly charged derby. Unlike the explosive events of last month’s final, the match proceeded with minimal controversy, earning praise for the officials’ composed handling of the occasion.

Robertson’s Solid Performance

Robertson’s experience shone through during the intense clash. While some fans debated a few decisions on social media, there were no glaring flashpoints like those in his September 2023 derby appearance, where Kemar Roofe’s disallowed goal sparked outrage. Aside from a regrettable incident where Arne Engels was struck by an object from the stands, the focus remained firmly on Rangers’ dominant display, which ended Clement’s six-game winless derby streak.

Key Moments and Decisions

Hagi vs. Johnston – No Card Given

An aerial collision between Ianis Hagi and Alistair Johnston saw the latter avoid punishment despite Clement’s calls for a red card.

Verdict: Des Roache, a former referee, felt Johnston was fortunate but agreed the decision was acceptable. “He didn’t use his arm as a weapon but to protect himself,” said Roache.

McGregor’s Tactical Yellow

Derby veteran McGregor earned the first booking for delaying a quick Rangers free-kick.

Verdict: Roache labeled it a textbook caution: “He used his experience to slow the game, but the yellow was deserved.”

Kuhn’s Bloody Nose

Nicolas Kuhn suffered a nose injury after an accidental elbow from Jefte.

Verdict: Roache deemed it reckless but not malicious, approving the yellow card given.

Half-Time Tension

Nicolas Raskin clashed with McGregor in a heated exchange just before the break, earning Raskin a yellow card.

Verdict: Roache praised Robertson’s calm handling, stating, “Raskin’s aggression warranted a card, but McGregor’s prior caution didn’t influence the referee’s decision.”

Kyogo’s Disallowed Goal

Celtic’s Kyogo saw his second-half effort ruled offside by the assistant referee, a decision confirmed swiftly by VAR.

Verdict: Roache applauded the officiating team for their precision and efficiency.

Penalty Appeals Denied

Rangers’ claims for a penalty following a handball by Adam Idah were dismissed.

Verdict: Roache supported the call, highlighting Idah’s natural hand position as key to the decision.

The Engels Incident

Celtic’s Arne Engels was struck by a coin thrown from the stands, leaving a mark near his eye.

Verdict: Robertson managed the situation well, prioritizing Engels’ welfare and ensuring proper protocol was followed.

Final Verdict

Des Roache commended the entire refereeing team for a composed and effective performance, saying: “Nobody is talking about Don Robertson after this game, and that’s the hallmark of excellent refereeing. He can head home, relax, and enjoy a well-deserved glass of wine.”

This derby will be remembered not for controversy, but for Rangers’ commanding victory and the officials’ steady control of the game.

Celtic vs. Rangers postponement latest following Met Office update

According to the most recent information from the Met Office, Rangers and Celtic’s Old Firm matchup at Ibrox does not seem in danger of being postponed

In several parts of the UK, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and potentially hazardous winds [Met Office, 1 January], have been predicted for Wednesday [1 January] and Thursday [2 January].

Following the cancellation of several games in the UK during the New Year fixture schedule, the highly anticipated derby match at Ibrox on Thursday appears to be in very little danger.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice, but because of the stadium’s subsurface heating system, the playing field should not be significantly impacted.

In terms of the outcome of the game itself, sunny spells above Glasgow should cancel out the cold temperatures, which are unlikely to soar beyond two degrees Celsius by Thursday’s 3pm kickoff.

Following unrest during the recent Scottish League Cup final [December 15], steps will also be taken to police fans in the surrounding regions.

At Ibrox, Rangers cannot lose against Old Firm.

It makes sense that Rangers supporters would be nervous before the first game of 2025, a home Old Firm derby against a dominant Celtic team.

But it’s a great opportunity to both exact revenge for the recent loss in the League Cup final and establish a reputation as a Scottish powerhouse capable of defeating the old foe at home.

After going two months without losing in the Premiership and passing Aberdeen to recover second place, Philippe Clement’s team had looked to be turning the corner until their recent slump over the holiday season.

But after the performances against Motherwell and St. Mirren to end 2024, supporters are now wailing for blood. In the latter game, Clement’s bold team choice raised many eyebrows; his halftime substitutes, Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane, effectively saved a draw at Fir Park.

The Old Firm is more frequent than many other world derbies, and the Gers have felt older since their last victory over Celtic. Regardless, they must win to escape the bitter fury of Ibrox.

Rangers’ move for a £3.3 million player who is similar to De Bruyne could eventually allow Clement to fire Dowell.

Now that the January transfer window is formally open, Glasgow Rangers will have the opportunity to make transfers in the upcoming weeks to bolster their roster.

The Gers are presently 14 points behind in the Scottish Premiership, but they still have the Europa League and the SFA Cup to contend with, so Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen may try to add players to the team.

The fact that Oscar Cortes, Mohamed Diomande, and Fabio Silva were all acquired for Ibrox during the January transfer window in 2024 indicates that the Gers’ management is ready to be active during the winter transfer window.

However, Kieran Dowell is a jerk, and Rangers may need to let go of certain players to make room in the roster for new recruits.

The reasons for moving on from Kieran Dowell
The English offensive midfielder, who was signed by Norwich City on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, hasn’t impressed at Ibrox in the last 18 months.

In the Premiership last season, the former Everton academy graduate made just 12 appearances, starting five of them, and provided two goals and two assists.

Dowell missed a staggering 26 games due to two different ailments that kept him out for more than 50 days each, severely disrupting his campaign.

In 11 Premiership appearances so far this season, the 27-year-old dude has scored zero goals and provided zero assists, demonstrating how little the midfielder has done for Clement.

The Belgian manager should thus fire the midfield failure, who has only managed two league goals in his 18 months at Ibrox, and use the January transfer window to acquire a replacement. Darius Olaru, a reported target, may be a great choice.

Reasons for Rangers to sign Olaru Darius
According to reports, Rangers are interested in signing the Romanian international, who has a £3.3 million release clause in his FCSB contract. By doing so, they would be able to remove Dowell from the team in that role.

If Olaru, an offensive midfielder, can adapt his performances from the Romanian first division since the beginning of the previous season, he would be a significant improvement over the Englishman in Scottish football.

Since the start of the 2021/22 season, the 26-year-old star has only missed six games due to injury. FCSB chief Mihai Stoica compared him to Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne for his ability to score and create goals.

Since the beginning of the previous season, Olaru has consistently contributed goals, assists, and “big chances” produced in the league, as the table above illustrates. Dowell has not been able to accomplish this during his tenure at Ibrox.

These figures imply that the De Bruyne-like player has the ability to replace the former Norwich player in the squad and provide Clement with higher-quality top-end players than he has been receiving from the former Norwich player.

Olaru can be a considerably more useful asset to the team than Dowell because of his availability, as demonstrated by his remarkable fitness record, and his skill, as demonstrated by his form in Romania.