Derek McInnes Secures First Old Firm Victory as Rangers Manager in League Cup Clash
Derek McInnes claimed his first Old Firm victory as Rangers manager following a dominant 3-0 win over Celtic to advance to the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup at Ibrox Stadium, according to Sky Sports News reporting. Captain Dan Neil scored twice while £9.2m Deadline Day signing Kevin Kelsy added a third on his debut, capitalising on an aggressive man-for-man press that left Celtic without answers.
Visitors Celtic struggled to cope with the tactical setup, failing to create distinct opportunities and losing a first domestic cup tie in seven meetings against their Glasgow rivals. According to Sky Sports News, McInnes used left-back James Penrice as an auxiliary midfielder to flood the centre of the pitch, allowing Rangers to press high up the park without away supporters present in the stadium.
Tactical Blueprint and Match Breakdown at Ibrox
The breakthrough arrived after 23 minutes when Dan Neil slotted the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area following link-up play involving Ryan Naderi and Kevin Kelsy. Kelsy later grabbed his first goal for the club in the second half by volleying home a flick-on at the back post, before Neil completed the scoring with 15 minutes remaining by curling a strike into the top corner.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admitted his side was second best after the match. “We were well beaten in the end. The first half we didn’t capitalise with a couple of really decent chances when we’d broken their press,” O’Neill told Sky Sports News, adding that the result should serve as a wake-up call ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Semi-Final Draw and Upcoming Fixtures
Following the victory, Rangers advance to face Aberdeen in the semi-finals scheduled for the weekend of October 31 and November 1, while Hearts were drawn against Hibernian. Derek McInnes praised his squad’s application after the match, noting that the performance serves as a vital reference point for the remainder of the campaign.
“Obviously we’ve got to take the good for the game and the feel-good factor and obviously look forward to the semi-final when it comes round, but equally we’ve got to get ready for the next one,” McInnes told Sky Sports News.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the goals in Rangers’ 3-0 win over Celtic?
Captain Dan Neil scored a brace, while Deadline Day signing Kevin Kelsy netted his first goal for the club on his Old Firm debut.
Who will Rangers face in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals?
Rangers have been drawn against Aberdeen for the semi-final tie scheduled for the weekend of October 31 and November 1.
What was the tactical key to Derek McInnes’ game plan?
According to Sky Sports News analysis, McInnes used left-back James Penrice as an auxiliary midfielder to flood the center of the pitch and execute an aggressive man-for-man press.
What did Celtic manager Martin O’Neill say about the performance?
Martin O’Neill conceded that Celtic were second best on the day, stating that the team failed to capitalize on early chances and must learn from the defeat.
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