adminRangers manager Derek McInnes showed his appreciation for quality after his side secured another important Old Firm victory, singling out Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers for praise following the 1-0 win at Celtic Park.
Rangers completed back-to-back victories over their Glasgow rivals after Ryan Naderi scored the only goal of the Scottish Premiership clash. The result followed their 3-0 League Cup victory over Celtic the previous week and gave McInnes another significant result since taking charge.
Despite celebrating a major victory, McInnes was quick to acknowledge the contribution of Carter-Vickers, whose defensive performance helped keep Celtic within touching distance throughout the contest.
The Rangers boss reportedly highlighted the American centre-back’s composure, positioning and ability to deal with dangerous situations as some of the reasons his team had to work hard to find the breakthrough.
Carter-Vickers was particularly important as Rangers attempted to increase their attacking pressure. His defensive awareness and ability to challenge for aerial balls provided Celtic with a reliable presence at the back.
The 1-0 scoreline reflected how difficult Rangers found it to completely break down their opponents. Although Rangers created more opportunities overall, Celtic’s defence prevented the visitors from turning their dominance into a more comfortable victory.
McInnes himself praised the collective defensive work of his Rangers side after the match, pointing to the importance of their fourth consecutive clean sheet. He also stressed that the defensive effort came from the entire team rather than simply the back four and goalkeeper.
Celtic had opportunities to respond after falling behind, and they appeared to have found an equaliser through Olwethu Makhanya. However, the goal was ruled out for handball following a VAR review, leaving Rangers to protect their advantage until the final whistle.
The victory moved Rangers to within two points of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, while also ending Celtic’s 13-match winning run in the league. Rangers have now won five consecutive league matches, giving McInnes’ team considerable momentum heading into the international break.
For Carter-Vickers, the praise from the opposing manager provides recognition of a defensive performance that helped prevent the Old Firm defeat from becoming more damaging for Celtic.
Although Rangers ultimately walked away with the points, McInnes’ comments highlighted the contribution of an opponent whose performance made the visitors work for every opening during another fiercely contested Glasgow derby.
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