Todd Cantwell chased back 40 yards to his own byeline to cover Alexandro Bernabei.
Having kept tabs on the Argentine and snuffed out the danger in first-half injury time, he then knocked the ball off the Celtic full-back and out for a goal kick. When play restarted, he hustled Reo Hatate to halt his forward momentum. Seconds later, he was in and around the ankles of Matt O’Riley doing the same. For the third goal, it was Cantwell who hounded out the Hoops mishap that led to Fashion Sakala racing clear before rounding Joe Hart to seal the deal.
Once more, he was back at a byeline – opposite end – clearing up as his own full-back Ridvan Yilmaz hit the deck at his feet. Forget the alert and lively movement to start and finish at the opening goal, the drag backs, neat touches and the two strikes Hart saved after the interval. It was that industry and desire which stood Cantwell out as much as his ability. This was a day when Rangers had to show something, to themselves as much as anyone, for next season.
Some involved in the win won’t still be around but as much as Michael Beale needed it to end his four-game winless run in the derby, he really needed to see who he could potentially count upon as part of his rebuild. The Ibrox manager isn’t silly.
He’ll know this was, in terms of trophies, a meaningless game. One without genuine pressure. And some individuals do relax to perform better in those scenarios than when under the stress and scrutiny of trophies being on the line.
As much as the Rangers fans enjoyed the success, it’s not about reflecting on it, it’s about what’s next. But if Beale takes the 90 minutes as a standalone in terms of taking the fight to Celtic next term, he got a display from Cantwell that says the former Norwich playmaker is a man to build plans around.
The 25-year-old was terrific. Where previously he had flattered to deceive in the fixture, he took centre stage. In both delivering offensively and grafting defensively, he did an excellent job with a midfield trio set behind him to lay the platform.
Within that base, fellow January recruit Nicolas Raskin showed himself to be terrier-like and accomplished on the ball with a work rate to match. He, too, is integral to the next phase.
Ryan Jack should sign his new deal this week. The situation with John Lundstram is not so clear cut, with Tom Lawrence also in the picture next term. In the backline, the manager was delighted for John Souttar.
The defender exorcised the demon of his Old Firm giveaway at Parkhead last month with a powerful header for goal No.2, which set Rangers fully on their way 11 minutes before the break. Tortured by injuries, the 26-year-old Scotland defender is an asset – if he can stay fit – alongside Connor Goldson while Yilmaz performed with credit at left-back.
Borna Barisic’s time is up. That area needs freshening and the Turk deserves a proper chance to show his worth, which he hasn’t been afforded yet since last summer’s arrival.
Behind them, Robby McCrorie collected a second successive clean sheet against Celtic. The keeper rode his luck when Oh Hyeon-gyu hit a post at 1-0 but his stop from O’Riley at the beginning of the second period was crucial. Importantly, McCrorie read the game.
The 25-year-old got out quickly to tidy up, unlike in the last league head-to-head across the city when Allan McGregor was caught too deep as Souttar fluffed his backpass and Jota got there first to round him and bag the eventual winner.
Beale will sign another keeper but McCrorie offers a suitable alternative. Sourcing a new attack provides the biggest challenge. Sakala took his goal with polish but he and Rabbi Matondo won’t win titles, with Alfredo Morelos – who was refused a shout off the bench from Beale – and Antonio Colak heading out.
Nonetheless, the Zambian got his moment and so did Rangers. Celtic were, quite simply, not at it. Ange Postecoglou had earned the right to leave out key players and test others such as Bernabei and Oh.
Injuries meant Yuki Kobayashi was at centre-back and the 22- year-old was not alert or strong enough at the first two goals. The Japanese should improve and it’s impossible to be overly critical of the Parkhead side given their champion efforts over the campaign. Postecoglou’s team weren’t helped by the loss of the opener inside five minutes or, by the manager’s own admission, the changes he made.
Oh and Liel Abada could have had them level by the interval instead of two down and the shambles of the third goal with 20 minutes left summed up an off-day. Celtic have the Treble to win.
The selection at Ibrox didn’t work but if it keeps key legs fresh and Inverness are beaten at Hampden in just under three weeks’ time, then it’s a price worth paying.
