Derek McInnes is finally seeing his vision realised at Rangers after a 1-0 victory over Celtic at Celtic Park sealed a second Old Firm triumph in the space of a week and extended his side's winning streak to six matches.
The result, following last Sunday's 3-0 League Cup win at Ibrox, has cut Celtic's lead at the top of the table to just two points and marked a remarkable turnaround for a Rangers side that endured a torrid start to the season, including embarrassing exits from both the Europa League and the Conference League.
McInnes, who faced mounting scrutiny only weeks ago, admitted he is enjoying the shift in fortunes. "I like putting my name to this team at the minute," he said after the win, acknowledging that the team's current shape and intensity finally reflect his managerial identity.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday, speaking on BBC Scotland's Sportsound, highlighted just how stark the change has been. He recalled that a month ago, questions were being asked about whether the team resembled a McInnes side at all, citing a lack of organisation, aggression and athleticism. Halliday said the performance against Celtic finally showed the identity fans had been waiting for—an aggressive, front-foot team that pressed high and moved the ball forward with purpose.
Defensively, Fernandez showed signs of fragility early on, picking up a booking for pulling back Camilo Duran and later escaping punishment for a rash challenge on Benjamin Nygren. Despite those moments, he grew into the game and finished with 11 clearances, playing a crucial role in keeping Celtic at bay. Alongside him, Makhanya offered composure and control, and his performance earned him the man-of-the-match award. Celtic, for all their possession, were limited to just one shot on target throughout the match.
In midfield, Dan Neil and Nico Raskin have emerged as key figures, leading Rangers in passes completed while consistently offering support and winning duels. Statistically, Rangers were outpassed overall by 75 passes, but they completed 50 more passes than Celtic in the opposition's half—an indication of their intent to progress the ball forward rather than simply retain possession in deeper areas, as Celtic often did between their centre-backs.
McInnes praised his midfield unit specifically, saying, "My midfield were terrific again. Celtic filled the midfield. We filled it with even more bodies, we just made sure we weren't going to get overrun in there. We look far more calm, far more settled in everything that we're doing. The players deserve so much credit for that."
The achievement carries extra significance given the context: Rangers boast one of the youngest squads in the league, with an average age of 24, and have had to cope without the experience of injured captain Shankland. Former winger Peter Lovenkrands suggested the squad would draw considerable confidence from doubling up on derby wins against their fiercest rivals.
McInnes becomes the first Rangers manager since Graeme Souness to win his opening two Old Firm derbies, a landmark he hopes will serve as a foundation rather than a peak. "There's a lot of growth in the team," he said. "And winning in places like this only helps. But there's plenty of league games to be won and we have to concentrate on that."
Reflecting on the criticism he faced earlier in the campaign, McInnes acknowledged the difficulty of defending the team's early form. "It was hard to defend the criticism at the start of the season," he said. "We're on a strong run now, six wins in a row, which is the kind of consistency we're searching for. But at the start we didn't look ready, for whatever reason, we didn't look settled as a team, didn't carry an attacking threat. But we've knuckled down and worked hard, and hopefully that winning habit is something we can keep working towards."
With the pressure of European competition removed, McInnes and his players now face heightened expectations given the club's substantial investment in the squad—but for now, the mood around Ibrox has shifted decisively in their favour.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.