Rangers turned Celtic over 3-0 at Ibrox, and Dan Neil was the reason the game got away from them. The skipper scored twice, first in the 22nd minute from the edge of the box and then again in the 75th, while K. Kelsy added the second in the 59th minute for his first goal in Light Blue. For a player who had made only 3 appearances and played 228 minutes this season before this derby, it was a major breakout night.

No away fans were inside Ibrox, with the authorities ordering that arrangement amid the ticket allocation dispute, and the atmosphere suited Rangers from the start. Celtic arrived on five straight wins in their previous five games. Rangers had been more mixed, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss across the same stretch, but this was far more convincing than a side just grinding through decent form.

Neil's derby changed the game

Neil's opener gave Rangers the platform and also changed the mood of the tie. The goal came in the 22nd minute, guided in from the edge of the box, and Celtic never properly recovered from losing the game that early.

The surprise was not just that Neil scored. It was that he grabbed a double after starting the season without a goal and with limited minutes. His season rating sits at 6.6, which fits the idea that this was a standout performance rather than part of a steady scoring run.

When Rangers got the second through Kelsy in the 59th minute, the contest felt close to settled. Neil then added the third in the 75th minute, although some reports frame that moment as coming with 15 minutes left. The point is the same: his second goal removed any route back for Celtic and made him the clear story of the night.

McInnes' plan worked

Derek McInnes had more than one reason to enjoy this. The result gave him a first Old Firm win, and the shape of the performance backed up the call he made before kick-off.

Daily Record's match report summed up the tactical choice this way: "His answer was to go with a man-for-man system all over the pitch, which included an unusual role for left-back James Penrice."

McInnes also went with two strikers against Martin O’Neill’s side, and Rangers pressed aggressively enough to keep Celtic uncomfortable. Reports of the game described Celtic as never really being at the races, which matched the flow on the night far more than the pre-match form lines did.

There is a caveat around one of the supporting subplots. Kelsy's transfer fee has been reported at both £9.2m and £9.5m elsewhere, so pinning down one figure here would be guesswork. What is clear from this match is that he got his first Rangers goal and gave Neil proper support in a front-foot display.

What stands out from the result

The scoreline matters, but the bigger takeaway is who delivered it. Neil had played only 3 times and only 228 minutes before this match, yet he produced the first and third goals in the biggest domestic fixture on the calendar.

Celtic's recent run made the margin more jarring, but Rangers earned it with their pressure and with far more conviction in the key moments. McInnes can talk up the gamble because it paid off in exactly the areas he targeted.

Neil will take the headlines, and fairly so. Two goals from a midfielder with no season goals before kick-off tend to do that, especially when they come in a 3-0 Old Firm win at Ibrox.

FAQ

Why was Dan Neil's display in Rangers vs Celtic such a big surprise?

Neil went into the derby with only 3 appearances and 228 minutes this season, and he had not scored before this game. He then opened the scoring in the 22nd minute from the edge of the box and added Rangers' third in the 75th minute, turning the match into his breakout Old Firm night.

How did Rangers set up to beat Celtic at Ibrox?

The reports pointed to Derek McInnes using a man-for-man system across the pitch and going with two strikers against Martin O’Neill’s side. That pressing approach unsettled Celtic early and helped Rangers control the game before Kevin Kelsy added the second and Neil struck again late on.

Did Kevin Kelsy score on his Rangers debut against Celtic?

Kelsy scored in the 59th minute and it was described as his first goal in Light Blue. The article does not go beyond that to settle wider debut details, but his goal was a major part of Rangers' 3-0 cup win over Celtic at Ibrox.

Was Celtic in good form before losing to Rangers?

Yes. Celtic came into the match on five wins from five in their previous five games, which made the 3-0 defeat more striking. Rangers were in decent form too, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in their previous five, but the margin still stood out.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →