Rangers hold Celtic to a 1-1 draw in final Old Firm clash of the year
Rangers were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Celtic in the final Old Firm showdown of the season.
Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring in the first half with his 25th goal of the campaign, giving Barry Ferguson’s men an early advantage. But Adam Idah levelled the score just before the hour mark to earn Celtic a share of the spoils at Ibrox.
The match was fiercely contested and could have swung either way, but the result extends Rangers’ winless streak to six matches across all competitions.
There was late controversy as Rangers appealed for a penalty in the closing stages after Ianis Hagi appeared to be brought down inside the box. Despite loud protests from the home side and a brief VAR review, referee Nick Walsh waved play on.
While some, including pundit Chris Sutton, felt the challenge was fair, ex-Rangers forward Steven Thompson strongly disagreed. Speaking on BBC Sportsound, he said: “That’s a penalty kick. On first viewing, for me it’s a penalty. The ball breaks in the box, Hagi’s going to get on to it and he’s spun to the deck.”
Rangers rue missed chances in derby draw
Despite the draw, Rangers arguably deserved more from the match. They were dominant in the first half and could have extended their lead before Idah’s equaliser — a goal initially ruled offside but awarded after a VAR intervention.
After a tough spell marked by criticism and poor results, Ferguson’s squad put in a spirited performance and showed signs of resurgence. However, with no win in six, the pressure remains high.
Next up is a crucial clash with Aberdeen, where only a victory will suffice. For Ferguson’s men, strong performances must now translate into results.
