A disappointing week for Glasgow’s large two was compounded as Rangers and Celtic performed out a forgettable goalless draw within the first Outdated Agency sport of the brand new season at Ibrox.
After humiliating midweek Champions League exits, neither facet may reply, with Russell Martin nonetheless trying to find his first league victory as Rangers head coach and Brendan Rodgers now winless in 4 consecutive derbies for Celtic.
Maybe avoiding defeat has purchased the under-fire Martin a while, however his workforce by no means regarded like a purpose menace on the day.
A primary half bereft of high quality yielded no possibilities, flashpoints, and even any photographs on the right track as John Souttar’s disallowed header was the one notable motion of the opening 45 minutes.
Reo Hatate finally registered the primary try on purpose on the hour mark, however no clear possibilities adopted.
A darkish week for Scottish soccer through which 4 sides did not progress from essential European qualifiers simply received even darker.
Based mostly on these two groups being the perfect the nation has to supply, Scottish soccer might wrestle to compete in Europe this season.
Outdated Agency fails to match hype
Rangers vs Celtic
There was the strangest environment inside Ibrox the place Gers chairman Andrew Cavanagh and representatives of the membership’s new US-based house owners 49ers Enterprises, together with vice-chairman Paraag Marathe, had been within the administrators’ field and the entire get together couldn’t have been impressed.
Former Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski – signed from La Liga facet Girona on Saturday – was handed his Rangers debut as membership captain James Tavernier returned at right-back, with locations for midfielders Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron and attacker Mikey Moore.
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh (R) was watching at Ibrox with vice-chairman Paraag Marathe
As extensively anticipated, fan favorite and arguably Rangers’ greatest participant final season, Nicolas Raskin, was absent amid hypothesis about his future.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha, the 24-year-old Belgian winger signed from Royal Antwerp, was handed his Celtic debut, whereas 27-year-old Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi, who joined this week from Boca Juniors on a season-long mortgage, was on the bench. Swansea goal Adam Idah was lacking from the squad as he nears a transfer to Swansea Metropolis.
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Bojan Miovski went down within the field following contact with Liam Scales however Rangers had been denied a penalty within the early phases
Within the seventh minute, there was a Rangers penalty declare when Miovski and Celtic defender Liam Scales clashed contained in the Hoops field however referee Don Robertson was having none of it.
Chants for Raskin rang around the blue-covered sections of the stadium earlier than the half-hour mark as a poor first half unfolded.
And the cheers that adopted Souttar heading in a free-kick from skipper James Tavernier quickly ended when VAR confirmed an offside.
Rangers’ John Souttar (centre) scores to make it 1-0 however the purpose is disallowed for offside following a VAR test
There was little enchancment at the beginning of the second half, with Rangers nonetheless taking part in extra direct soccer than beforehand this season.
Within the 53rd minute Gers winger Djeidi Gassama left Parkhead defender Kieran Tierney trailing the precise flank however his cross was snuffed out, ending within the palms of Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Gers keeper Jack Butland made his first actual save on the hour mark and it was a cushty one from Reo Hatate’s long-distance drive earlier than he stored out an overhead kick from Tierney.
Celtic’s Marcelo Saracchi got here on for his debut
Within the sixty fifth minute James Forrest and Shin Yamada changed Arne Engels and Balikwisha, with Tierney off for Sarrachi.
Cyriel Dessers and Oliver Antman got here on for Miovski and Moore, then Nedim Bajrami took over from Thelo Aasgaard, as Martin regarded to re-energise his flagging facet.
However the match ended goalless, with neither facet deserving the win.
