Rangers and Celtic Play to Goalless Draw in Disappointing Old Firm Derby
Rangers have yet to secure a win in their last four Scottish Premiership matches, marking their worst start to a league season in 42 years, with zero shots on target against Celtic.
Despite this dismal performance, Rangers head coach Russell Martin may find a silver lining after one of the most lackluster Old Firm derbies in recent memory.
After Celtic's disappointing European outing earlier in the week, many anticipated a strong response from Brendan Rodgers' side, aiming to increase the pressure on Martin. However, the match resulted in a frantic encounter characterized by a lack of attacking quality.
BBC Scotland analyzes the statistics behind the first goalless Old Firm match in eight years and explores potential paths to recovery for Rangers under Martin's leadership.
The Worst Old Firm Derby Ever?
The derby concluded with Rangers (0.15) and Celtic (0.17) achieving a combined expected goals rating of just 0.32, the lowest recorded in a Premiership game since the introduction of the xG statistic in the 2019-20 season. This figure indicates that both teams created very few quality scoring opportunities.
Rangers notably failed to register any shots on target, a first for them in a league game since a previous Old Firm derby in January 2021. Celtic managed only two shots, with none taken in the first half—a first for the team in a league match since November 2017. This performance highlights that Celtic is the only Premiership team this season to not attempt a first-half shot against Rangers.
In comparison, other teams have fared better against Rangers; Motherwell had two attempts, Dundee had three, and St Mirren had eight. Even third-tier Alloa Athletic managed several efforts against Rangers in a recent League Cup match.
Despite Celtic's exhausting midweek Champions League match, which included extra time and a lengthy flight back from Kazakhstan, their performance in this derby raises concerns about their attacking capabilities.
On the other hand, Martin can take solace in the fact that his team's defensive performance improved following a heavy defeat to Club Brugge earlier in the week. "I was really proud of the response," Martin told BBC Scotland, particularly noting the effort from players who have seen limited action recently. "We need to show that level of togetherness all the time. We’ve got something to build on."
Pressure Alleviated on Martin?
Rangers have won only once in their last seven matches, with that sole victory coming in the League Cup against Alloa, where they still conceded twice. Their current winless streak in the Premiership, which now spans four games, is their worst start to a league campaign since 1983.
Including a draw against Hibernian at the end of last season, this marks their longest run without a league victory since the Premiership's inception in 2013-14. Nevertheless, there are glimmers of hope for Martin as the international break approaches.
A loss on Sunday would have significantly intensified the pressure at Ibrox, particularly with club officials present, and would likely have led to fan unrest. Martin's more structured and disciplined approach in this match earned him his first clean sheet in the Premiership.
"I’m disappointed we didn’t win because I felt we were good for large parts," Martin reflected. "But I’m really proud of the players’ level of fight, desire, and aggression—qualities that have been questioned both inside and outside the club. We focused on fighting, showing togetherness, spirit, and aggression, and we saw plenty of that today. It’s an important clean sheet and an important point. We’re six points off the top, which is frustrating, but it gives us something to chase after."
To turn things around, Martin must improve on his current record of just three wins in 11 games, and he faces a challenging schedule ahead, with back-to-back matches against Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian before a Europa League opener against Genk. However, Sunday’s draw has eased some of the mounting pressure on him.