Rangers 0-1 Celtic: Better, but not good enough for Mark Warburton's side

The approach was familiar, but so too was the outcome as Rangers were defeated once again. This one won’t hurt as much, but it will be extremely difficult to take for Warburton and his players.

Rangers headed for Hampden still reeling from the 5-1 demolition derby defeat at Parkhead a few weeks ago. The pressure was on and serious questions were being asked of the manager and his players.

Read more: Rangers keeper Matt Gilks could have been a Hampden hero but he will be a substitute against St Johnstone

In some respects, Rangers answered them positively. It was better, but not good enough.

Seven points adrift and perhaps already out of the Premiership title race, this encounter looked set to shape their ambitions for the remainder of the campaign before a ball was kicked.

Only the Scottish Cup remains as a realistic target for Warburton this term. He will have left the National Stadium somewhat heartened, but still defeated.

Read more: Rangers keeper Matt Gilks could have been a Hampden hero but he will be a substitute against St Johnstone

This was no humbling at the hands of the Hoops. Instead, it was an agonising afternoon for Rangers as Brendan Rodgers’ side left it late to snatch a place in the Betfred Cup final.

There was only one goal between the Old Firm rivals this time around but it was enough for Celtic, and it could have been more. Their win may not have been as emphatic but it was still deserved.

Warburton will not have to go back to the drawing board but he will once again have to pick his players up. This won’t have added significantly to the pressure on his shoulders, but it wasn’t enough to lift any weight either.

The lack of an alternative game plan has become one of the main criticism directed at Warburton in recent months. His insistence that Plan B was to do Plan A better has left many fans frustrated but he has stuck steadfastly to his football philosophy.

The blueprint was never going to be ripped up heading to Hampden. There was one surprise when the team sheet was announced and the debate soon started about how Rangers would approach the second derby of the season as Lee Hodson started at right-back.

It meant an advanced role for James Tavernier as the Englishman was given more attacking responsibilities wide on the right hand side. It would provide Tavernier with greater freedom in the final third but he wasn’t allowed to shirk his defensive role.

The Kieran Tierney and Scott Sinclair partnership has been a key part of Celtic’s success so far this season and stopping the pair from playing would be crucial if Rangers were to emerge victorious at Hampden.

For most of the first half, Warburton would have been content with how his plan was unfolding. There was more energy about his side as Andy Halliday, Josh Windass and Jason Holt got about the middle of the park but there was little to worry Craig Gordon in the Celtic goal.

When McKay went down under a challenge from Jozo Simunovic, the appeals from Warburton’s side and the Rangers end went unrewarded. Instead, the winger was booked for simulation.

It was one of the few times where Celtic were under threat. Rangers grew into the contest in what was left of the half but there was, once again, no cutting edge to their play. Ultimately, that would cost them.

The action was frantic but a lack of quality from both sides ensured this wasn’t one for the football purists.

Celtic had cut Rangers open time after time at Parkhead and they always looked the more likely to break the deadlock. Rangers just didn’t create enough and that meant they couldn’t afford to put a foot wrong at the other end.

Read more: Rangers keeper Matt Gilks could have been a Hampden hero but he will be a substitute against St Johnstone

The defensive partnership of Rob Kiernan and Clint Hill stood firm, the fear over their mobility, or lack of, proving misplaced as they coped well enough with Moussa Dembele and positioned themselves to make a series of blocks.

There were anxious moments for Rangers, though, and they were of their own making.

Warburton kept faith with Matt Gilks as Wes Foderingham, one of the Gers’ most consistent players this term, again missed out in cup action.

The keeper made a couple of decent stops early on but almost gifted Tom Rogic a goal with a slack pass as Holt looked to play out from the back.

When Gilks conceded a corner following another error, the Gers fans were questioning their manager’s decision making once again. The 34-year-old turned out to be one of Rangers’ top performers, though, and it was partly down to him that the game remained live until Celtic’s 87th minute winner.

Gilks was left helpless when Erik Sviatchenko headed home and, like everyone in Light Blue, breathed a sigh of relief as Craig Thomson blew for a foul on Hill.

The hour mark came and went and the Rangers bench remained seated. There was no need for Warburton to change it at that stage but he eventually rolled the dice, Martyn Waghorn and Joe Garner replacing Kenny Miller and Windass.

Holt had seen a shot blocked and McKay one saved but Gilks continued to carry a slice of luck as a Sinclair free-kick came back off the bar and into his grasps. The good fortune was more than welcome for Rangers.

Celtic repeatedly threatened but Warburton was bold with his substitutions once again. He had paid the price for having a go at Parkhead but he wasn’t settling again here as Joe Dodoo replaced McKay.

He had an improved performance, he may have felt he had proved a point. But he needed the result that would give his side a shot at the silverware.

That, once again, was missing for Rangers though as their efforts went unrewarded.

Chances had come and gone but Celtic always looked like having another one. When Leigh Griffiths got the better of Lee Wallace, his cross found Dembele and the striker flicked the ball beyond Gilks.

The celebrations had barely subsided in the Celtic support by the time the final whistle came. Derby day once again belonged to Rodgers and his players.

In a couple of weeks, they will do it all over again as the Old Firm close out 2016 with a Hogmanay battle at Ibrox.

Rangers must now react in the right way if they are to harbour ambitions of a title challenge.

Warburton won’t find a new blueprint in the coming weeks. More lessons will have been learned, though.