Can Rangers Defy the Odds and Seize Old Firm Redemption?
There’s something undeniably odd brewing as the Old Firm derby edges closer — a strange kind of tension that’s settled over the Rangers camp. You can almost feel the hush in the locker room, the lingering echoes of that crushing 6-1 defeat in Bruges casting a long shadow. For Russell Martin, this stretch has been the ultimate test; his days consumed by attempts to lift the squad’s spirit and convince them they still have what it takes to topple Celtic on their turf this Sunday. He’s walking a thin line — preaching optimism without losing control, steering clear of blame, and doing everything to shake off the weight of one of the most humiliating results in Rangers’ history. The players must snap out of the funk, rebuild their defensive grit, dominate the midfield where Celtic traditionally flex strength, and punch holes in the opposition’s defense with renewed vigor. Martin’s got to find that magical balance — motivating without breaking, inspiring without sugarcoating. Because the derby doesn’t just demand skill; it demands heart, resilience, and an unyielding will to fight back. It’s anyone’s guess which players he’ll finally trust to carry this burden on match day, but one thing’s for sure — the chance to seize glory rests with those willing to rise above the despair and grab it by the reins.
It’s a strange one. That’s the word going into the Old Firm derby – strange.
It will have been a quiet few days in the Rangers dressing room, a time for reflection after the debacle in Bruges.
Russell Martin will have faced his toughest couple of days as Rangers head coach, just trying to pick the players up and getting them to believe they can go out and beat Celtic on Sunday.
He has to get them together and make sure that everyone has positive messages. It’s the only way he can go about it. He cannot read the riot act.
He’s got to totally change tact and make sure he doesn’t throw the players under the bus.
It’ll be tough trying to be positive, even just speaking to the players, but he has to make sure they don’t linger on the 6-1 Champions League loss in Belgium, even though it’s one of the toughest results in the club’s history.
They can beat Celtic, because it’s at home and it’s Rangers. But they’re going to have to show so much more – starting by being more solid in defence and midfield.
The occasion of the derby makes you run more and get into tackles. They have got to try and dominate the midfield area, because Celtic are strong in there, and they’ve got to look a lot more potent going forward and start scoring some goals.
But the biggest thing for Rangers just now is keeping Celtic out. Build from the back, get a solid base and make sure you’re not losing goals.
We went to Parkhead last season when we hadn’t won there for a long time and we got the victory.
We were on the back of a good result in Fenerbahce, so it was all positive.
Somehow, Martin has to find a way of giving out positive messages even though it’s the worst defeat he could suffer. If you give out negative messages and it’s down, I don’t even think the derby can look after itself.
You could usually throw a derby at any set of Rangers players and they go, ‘we’ll be up for this’. Will they be? I’m not so sure because they look absolutely demoralised. They have got to find a way.
The way Russell Martin is speaking about James Tavernier, I think we’ll see him on the team on Sunday.
It remains to be seen if Nico Raskin gets in but I always say you’ve got to manage your big players.
He is one of the best players at Rangers. You’ve got to get him in the team but it’s how he goes about getting the best out of Raskin.
They have a better chance of beating Celtic by having Raskin in the team, but I’m just not sure who he’s going to pick.
You’re always 90% sure that eight or nine players will be in it, but anybody could get an opportunity on Sunday. It’s up to them to go and grasp it.
Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds was speaking to BBC Sport Scotland’s Andrew Petrie.
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