Rangers Vs Celtic draw hands late edge to Hearts and Motherwell as Ibrox fallout exposes damage
The ripple effects from this rangers vs celtic stalemate are immediate: two rival teams walk out of Ibrox with reputations dented while Hearts and Motherwell profit in the standings. Celtic finished the game sprightly and Rangers were left stunned after a 2-2 draw that contained late drama, an ugly aftermath on the pitch and clear questions about momentum and mentality for the home side.
Who feels the impact first: rivals up the table and a pair of managers smiling
There wasn't a winner at Ibrox, but there were winners elsewhere. Derek McInnes and Jens Berthel Askou would have gladly taken the scoreline before kick-off: a draw was the result they hoped for and their wish was granted. Hearts and Motherwell finish the weekend in a stronger position, while Rangers and Celtic depart with damage to their claims and confidence.
How the match shifted — moments that tilted the balance
Rangers carried the fight through the first half and looked dominant: out-scoring, out-playing, out-fighting and out-believing their opponents. The home side led 2-0 at the break and Ibrox was in thrall to their aggression, speed and accuracy. Mikey Moore, 18 years old, drew attention in the first half when he juggled the ball around the halfway line and offered a calming, carefree presence until Julian Araujo, described as a frustrated full-back, wrestled the ball from him.
The opening goal began with a dispossessing of Araujo by Tuur Rommens and Youssef Chermiti in the corner. Andreas Skov Olsen floated in the cross and Chermiti rose to produce a spectacular opener, the connection beating Viljami Sinisalo. The finish drew breathless comparison to historic strikes, with a reference point to a 2. 53m measurement for Scott McTominay's boot at a previous notable goal; observers noted Chermiti's leap might not be far off.
Rangers Vs Celtic: scoreline, scorers and the comeback
The match finished 2-2. Rangers held a two-goal lead at half-time thanks to a brace from Youssef Chermiti. Celtic fought back in the second period, with Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate finding goals that erased the deficit and set up a late, dramatic draw. Aggression spilled over after the final whistle: pushing, shoving and pointing were visible on the pitch, leaving the body language at the end instructive — Celtic sprightly, Rangers stunned.
Rohl’s response, selection notes and the question of character
Danny Rohl defended his squad’s mentality after the match and pushed back on criticism. He said his players do have the bottle for the Premiership title race despite letting a two-goal lead slip at Ibrox. Rohl emphasised that every game has its own story and that momentum swings are normal; it is important to continue the performance for the whole 90 minutes. He pointed out moments where his team lost the ball in dangerous areas, allowed transition chances and let the match become stretched when they wanted to stay compact.
Rohl explained attempts to stabilise with a third midfielder and noted that football is about energy — Rangers couldn’t get the momentum back in the second half. He also highlighted positional issues in the box, citing a five-against-three situation at the penalty as an example of avoidable defending. Looking ahead, he said the gap in the table is six points, that there are nine games to go, and that the title race could go to the final matchday; he promised to fight for every point and to work on improvements before their next meeting.
Asked about Andreas Skov Olsen — the January signing who assisted Chermiti’s opener but was peripheral for much of the match — Rohl said the Danish winger is improving week on week, has provided good assists and is "on the way to being better and better. " He warned against comfort and said the group must keep raising standards.
