Rangers 0-0 Celtic – Criticism Follows Dull Stalemate in Old Firm Match | OneFootball

Rangers and Celtic Serve Up Dull Draw as Pressure Mounts

The banners told the story before a ball had been kicked. Outside Ibrox, draped along Edmiston Drive, fans made their feelings clear. Faces of head coach Russell Martin and CEO Patrick Stewart were crossed out with red symbols, accompanied by blunt messages: “Martin & Co, it’s time to go,” and “We deserve better, enough is enough.” The tension around Rangers has been growing, and after another dour showing in the Old Firm derby, the scrutiny has intensified.

Photo IMAGO

A 0-0 draw with Celtic would not usually trigger alarm. But this was Rangers’ fourth consecutive league game without a win under Martin, their worst start to a campaign since 1983. Their record now reads three wins in 11 across all competitions and a humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge, losing 9-1 on aggregate.

Atmosphere at Ibrox

Martin stayed on the sidelines after the final whistle, watching as his players saluted a restless Ibrox crowd. He eventually walked down the tunnel to boos. Supporters debated whether this was the worst Old Firm match ever. Rangers failed to register a shot on target, while Celtic offered little threat of their own. The match ended with the lowest xG in a Scottish Premiership game since records began in 2019.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh, in attendance after completing his takeover earlier this year, reportedly told players to “ignore the noise.” Yet Glasgow rarely allows such advice to be followed.

Growing Discontent

Supporters chanted for Nico Raskin, who has been training away from the first team after being omitted against Brugge. His possible departure would follow Hamza Igamane’s move to Lille after refusing to play for Martin. The manager’s combative tone since day one, criticising players’ mentality, has not endeared him to the squad or fans.

Photo IMAGO

Martin’s coaching philosophy is also under question. At Southampton, where he won one game in 16, his patient, possession-based style was branded naive. In Scotland, where football demands grit and pragmatism, it is an even harder sell. Against Celtic, his team’s constant passing between Jack Butland and Nasser Djiga invited danger rather than control.

Celtic’s Position

Martin’s job may be saved, temporarily, by Celtic’s own shortcomings. Brendan Rodgers’ side have money but little inclination to spend, and with Rodgers entering the final year of his contract, investment has been minimal. The Scottish Premiership has rarely felt easier to win, but such caution has left Celtic toothless in Europe.

Photo: IMAGO

This was a derby stripped of its usual intensity, a lifeless encounter that reflected the malaise in Scottish football’s two biggest clubs. For Rangers, a manager already on the edge faces a battle to prove he has the tools to turn this around.