A day which began with mounting questions over Philippe Clement’s future ended with the Belgian scratching his own head in bewilderment.
If this is how his side can play against Celtic when patched up and under extreme pressure, where exactly have they been hiding for so long when at full strength?
While this resounding victory may not change anything in terms of the destination of the title, it was hugely significant for the man at the helm.
A wretched festive period which had seen the gap to Celtic extend to 14 points had made all Clement’s talk of progress sound like wishful thinking. Lose this one and he might well have been checking the ‘situations vacant’ columns come the morning.
This performance and result assuredly buys him time and will go a long way to restoring the diminishing levels of faith supporters had in him.
At the seventh time of asking, the Belgian not only has a prized win over Celtic. He has a display to offer as tangible evidence to those who doubt his side are moving in the right direction.
Philippe Clement celebrates with Ianis Hagi after he opened the scoring in the Old Firm derby
Robin Propper celebrates after netting Rangers’ crucial second goal at Ibrox on Thursday
Rangers substitute Danilo had only been on the park a matter of minutes before scoring
The margin of victory in no way flattered the home side. All over the park, they won individual battles. Once they settled into the game, they played with an intensity that was conspicuous by its absence in the displays at both Paisley and Motherwell.
While a ragged Celtic team made elementary errors, Rangers were fluid, cohesive and clinical. There was a togetherness to Clement’s side which dismissed any notion that the players no longer bought into him. They might well have won by more.
That Ianis Hagi should set Rangers on their way felt in keeping with the redemptive tone of the day.
The Romanian was persona non grata earlier under Clement in the season. A deal was struck to get him back in the fold. Rarely will a manager have been so grateful to have been proven wrong.
Rangers were never in danger from the moment he found the net with a fine strike. Their midfield ran over the top of Celtic’s. Their attackers repeatedly caused panic in the visitors’ defence.
It was hard to recall a domestic game in which Celtic were so off the pace. At no point did they have any control over the contest.
A brief flurry at the outset of the second period came to nothing. Once Robin Propper claimed the second, they were done for. Danilo’s third ensured the scoreline was more reflective of what had ensued.
A remarkable victory for Clement was achieved in remarkable circumstances.
With Leon Balogun, James Tavernier and Jack Butland unable to make it and John Souttar already injured, he did not have his troubles to seek. Throwing Ridvan Yilmaz in at right-back felt like a desperate measure.
For a full-strength Celtic front line which had scored 52 goals in 18 league matches to this point, this should have felt like rich pickings. But they were woeful throughout.
With Ibrox exclusively filled with home supporters who’d lost much faith in their side across the past two matches, Clement could ill-afford another poor start.
Celtic came at them strongly, forcing two early corners. This time, though, Rangers did not buckle.
The opener was a late Christmas gift. A weak pass out of defence from Liam Scales, Nico Raskin intercepting an advancing. Hagi’s strike from the edge of the box was well placed, but Kasper Schmeichel will feel he could have seen it round the post. Sat in the main stand, his father Gheorghe roared his approval.
For a few minutes, Rangers were rampant. The crossbar came to Schmeichel’s rescue when Vaclav Cerny’s shot took a deflection.
Up on the game, pressing and forcing errors all over the park, this was what Clement had demanded and longed for. The sight of Ridvan knocking Daizen Maeda to the ground offered further encouragement.
As impressive as Rangers were, Celtic were all over the place. They invented new ways to give the ball away. Their big players made no appreciable impact. It said much that it took them until first-half stoppage-time for Reo Hatate to call stand-in keeper Liam Kelly into action.
Celtic improved marginally for a few minutes after the break although that would not have been difficult.
Clement’s men still came closest to a second, Cerny hitting the inside of the post after another Scales’ error.
No sooner had Rodgers hit the gamble button and Propper slammed home the second after Celtic had defended a corner poorly.
Danilo’s explosive finish, his fifth in seven matches, removed any lingering doubt about the outcome.
