Rangers listen to bullish fans' graphic Celtic message as Umbro ad hoarding moment says it all

A proper captain’s performance from Dan Neil also paved the way for a handsome win over Celtic that means so much more than simply securing the chance to vie for a Premier Sports Cup final place against Aberdeen next month. The Ibrox side will hope the positive vibes created will change the narrative of their season. This win at the very least permits them to walk with chests puffed out into Parkhead next weekend, when the teams meet again on league duty.

Neil got the ovation he deserved when he was replaced with five minutes left. Charged with skippering the side in the injured Lawrence Shankland’s absence, he has had to concentrate on hitting his own performance levels as well as shouldering the wider responsibility of leading teammates in some difficult fixtures.

It hasn’t always looked like he would be cut out for life at Ibrox. The 24-year-old – yes, he really is still that young - put such misgivings to bed here. He was announced as sponsors’ man of the match unusually early. Although others, including goalscoring Old Firm debutant Kevin Kelsy, shone, and there were no failures, the former Sunderland player was the outstanding candidate.

Even without his two goals, one in each half, he probably would have deserved such acclaim. There were others, too, of course. As well as the aforementioned Kelsy, whose well controlled near-post volley put Rangers 2-0 up on the hour mark, Ryan Naderi was also central to the victory.

It emerged the German-Bulgarian had been a pre-match doubt due to concerns about a dead leg. McInnes later confided that he would have hated it if a Rangers player pulled out of an Old Firm game due to this relatively minor complaint. The striker assured him he was ready to play on the morning of the match. He did not let McInnes down on any front.

Naderi had a part to play in two of the three goals. Kim Minsu, meanwhile, recovered after a truly terrible opening spell when he fluffed a series of set-pieces.

The first goal, midway through the opening half, came at a good time. Although the game had still to settle into any discernible pattern, there was enough evidence to suggest Celtic goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was jittery in just his second game for the club.

Liam Scales had already been forced to clear off the line from Kim after Johnstone came out and failed to gather a corner before Rangers went ahead.

James Penrice, pushed into midfield, passed down the left to Naderi, who did well to get in front of Cameron Carter-Vickers. An astute pass into the path of Kelsy suddenly spelt problems for Celtic. Neil still had a lot to do when the Venezuelan squared the ball to his skipper. Indeed, it felt like he might be better off feeding Kim, free to his right. Neil instead fired low and hard past Johnstone from the edge of the box.

Rangers goal celebrated twice

Kelsy was equally unerring when putting Rangers 2-0 up on the hour mark after Naderi’s headed flick from a Penrice cross begged to be hit on the flush. The striker did the necessary, executing a difficult finish inside Johnstone’s near post. A VAR check for offside meant it could be celebrated twice.

Neil tied things up with 15 minutes left by passing into the top corner, again from the edge of the box, after Carter-Vickers’ attempted clearance landed invitingly for him.

One-goal margin wins over the likes of Aberdeen, St Mirren and Falkirk are all very well, but this was the big one McInnes really wanted, and one he probably really needed. Even Rangers’ tifo game was upped: Ian Ferguson v Mike Galloway, both recognisable as the midfield warriors who patrolled the midfield in these games back in the 1990s. “Fight and never fear,” the writing urged.

Aside from a mild dust-up on the far touchline in front of the Sandy Jardine Stand, there was little evidence of the inevitable tensions getting out of hand in such a partisan atmosphere. Away supporters were not in attendance. The maximum total of 51,212 home fans were able to enjoy the occasion, extinguishing pre-match fears that they might be forced to look on as Celtic frolicked in enemy territory. The noise was genuinely deafening at times.

McInnes lapped it up, if not as boldly as when he was filmed clapping along to Penny Arcade while play was still ongoing in midweek against St Mirren. He did, though, briefly conduct the choir after the final whistle. He has been forgiven for everything – well, maybe everything except Jablonec away.

As for Celtic, Kasper Hogh finding Callum McGregor from kick off was perhaps the best thing the Danish striker did all day. Benjamin Nygren passed to an Umbro advertising hoarding in the second half. Martin O'Neill's side could just not get going. Nothing he did seemed to work. The Celtic manager sent on Haissem Hassan at half time for Sebastian Tounekti – the Egyptian, O’Neill revealed afterwards, had a “little problem” overnight and so didn’t start. If anything, Celtic were worse following the interval.

Just when it was beginning to feel like they might not win an Old Firm derby again, Rangers conjured up among their most deserved and comprehensive victories of recent times. A three-match run of failure stretching back to March, when Rangers surrendered a two-goal lead at home, had become a matter of grave concern. It was getting to the point where you had to suspect a mental problem.

Well, not here. Celtic were swept aside. The trick for McInnes' young team is to do it again next week, when everyone is against them.