IT was a result that cost Rangers just three points in the Premiership. It was a performance and a defeat that raised significant questions and concerns, though, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were humbled at Parkhead for the second time in seven months.
The derby defeat in February ultimately turned the campaign as Celtic went on to clinch the title. On Saturday, four goals were shipped and Rangers fell five points adrift at the top of the table.
It is, of course, still early in the season. Fans are fearing the worst, however, and Herald and Times Sport assesses five key issues in the aftermath of the Old Firm embarrassment.
BOSS HAS A FIGHT ON HIS HANDS
Van Bronckhorst was the man that took Rangers to within a shoot-out of the finest achievement in their history and then ended the long wait for Scottish Cup success.
It would seem strange, then, that there is talk over him losing his job. That is one of the anomalies of life at Ibrox, but it also speaks to just how poor Rangers have been on league duty since the Dutchman replaced Steven Gerrard in November.
From a position of strength, Rangers blew their title defence last term and concerns over Van Bronckhorst’s approach to domestic fixtures grow with each point that is dropped.
The away record in particular is a real area of worry for supporters. If it is not addressed as a matter of urgency, this season will unfold in the same way as last term.
The European glory nights against the likes of Dortmund and RB Leipzig will live long in the memory and the fans should be grateful for the occasions that Van Bronckhorst delivered.
But success on the continent will not save him if his side continue to trail behind Celtic and a second successive Premiership failure would spell the end for him at Ibrox. Once there is a feeling that he is not the man to deliver 56, Van Bronckhorst will be fighting a losing battle.
LACK OF HEART CANNOT BE TOLERATED
Better Rangers sides than this have gone to Celtic Park and been humbled. Indeed, Van Bronckhorst was part of one after being involved in the infamous 6-2 demolition derby.
Defeat to Celtic, in any way, shape or form, can never be accepted. But there is a way to lose Old Firm fixtures and such a timid, gutless performance will have hurt supporters even more than the result as Rangers got away with only conceding four on an abject afternoon.
Trips across the city were made with a degree of fear before Steven Gerrard’s arrival in 2018 and one of his early successes was to change the mentality on derby day. Soon, it was Rangers who had the psychological edge as well as the ability to mix it physically and then let their football do the talking at Ibrox and Parkhead.
On Saturday, Van Bronckhorst’s side were out-thought, out-fought and out-played as the dreaded hat-trick was completed. It should shame the manager and his players.
From switching off at set-pieces to failing to track runners, it was a display devoid of confidence and concentration from Rangers. If you don’t want it as much as your opposition and you don’t do the basics right, you deserve all the criticism that comes your way.
TRANSFER STRATEGY QUESTIONED
The side that Van Bronckhorst sent out contained just two of his summer signings. Come the hour mark, the seven were seated in the dugout or the stands.
The Dutchman insisted pre-match that he was happy with the business done during the transfer window but the view that Rangers are short in a couple of areas is even more prevalent now than it was as the clock ticked towards the deadline last week.
Injuries denied Van Bronckhorst the services of Ben Davies, John Souttar and Tom Lawrence but Ridvan Yilmaz is still not up to starting at left-back and Rabbi Matondo was nowhere to be seen after a less than encouraging introduction to Rangers. Antonio Colak led the line and should have done better with his limited service, while Malik Tillman was miles off it as he looked lost in the Old Firm hustle and bustle.
Rangers needed a proper box-to-box midfielder, a goal-scoring right winger and another striker this summer but, for whatever reason, didn’t get them. It could cost them dearly.
The finger of blame will swing between Van Bronckhorst, Ross Wilson and the board. Someone, perhaps all of them, will pay the price if Rangers fail this term.
MCLAUGHLIN POSITION UNDER THREAT
The decision to hand Jon McLaughlin the gloves this season was a defining one for Van Bronckhorst. Dropping him would be an even bigger call but the keeper cannot escape scrutiny after such a dreadful showing.
The mistake for the fourth goal stands out on the list of misdemeanours but McLaughlin has questions to answer over the three first half strikes as well.
If Van Bronckhorst thought that Allan McGregor was capable of being the first name on the team sheet this term, he would have stuck with the Ibrox legend. It would be quite the U-turn, then, to pitch McGregor back in.
The other option, of course, is Robby McCrorie. Rangers see him as the custodian of the future and remain keen for the 24-year-old to sign a long-term deal but his lack of opportunities continue to frustrate him.
McLaughlin isn’t likely to pay the price immediately for his Parkhead performance but the pressure is now very much on his shoulders and Van Bronckhorst could have a choice to make.
If he does, it will be a telling one. If McGregor and McLaughlin are not the answer, then McCrorie will expect his time to come.
AJAX AN OMINOUS TEST IN GROUP A
It is good to have another 90 minutes to focus on quickly and to have the opportunity to right the wrongs of a big game defeat. Fans have heard the well-versed cliché often enough.
Time will tell if Rangers can put the theory into practice in Amsterdam. The Old Firm drubbing must be analysed and learned from, but attentions are now focused on Ajax.
A return to the Champions League group stages marks the end of the journey for Rangers a decade after they set out on the road to recovery in the Third Division.
It would be almost typical of this team, which goes from high to low so readily, to earn a result on the continent on the back of a domestic defeat. If that is to happen, Rangers will have to raise the bar to new heights.
