Ryan Naderi seals Rangers’ Old Firm win over Celtic in Glasgow
Rangers beat Celtic in the Old Firm in Glasgow on 20 September 2026 when Ryan Naderi scored the decisive goal.
There were no visiting fans allowed at this season’s Glasgow derbies, so Naderi’s strike was greeted only by the banging of fists on the clear plastic of the Rangers bench and the commentators’ shouting. The goal came after Kim Min‑su’s long-range effort was parried by Viljami Sinisalo into Naderi’s path and was described as the decisive emblem of Rangers’ superiority. The result left Celtic on three straight defeats and, the report said, opened up the title race.
Derek McInnes named an unchanged Rangers side that the piece described as showing coherent patterns of play, a functional, hungry midfield and a sense of order. James Penrice was again prominent on the left, with Dan Neill and Nicolas Raskin forming a central partnership and Naderi and Kim causing problems in attacking areas. The account noted Rangers were not a finished article but displayed unity and spirit in their biggest test of the season.
Martin O’Neill made an early tactical change by moving Luke McCowan into midfield, abandoned a back five at half-time and used a series of substitutes, but the report judged no clear plan emerged from Celtic. The article posed questions about several senior figures, noting “McGregor is 33 and the captain,” and asked whether Callum McGregor, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney, the club’s goalkeepers, O’Neill and the board remain fit for purpose. It also criticised some summer signings, saying Kasper Høgh offered little after coming on at half-time, Camilo Durán disappeared after an early period of influence, and Mika Baur was overrun by a superior Rangers midfield.
Wouter Vrancken labelled a VAR intervention “strange” after Hearts believed they had taken the lead in the 11th minute when Laurent Mendy’s effort was diverted into the net by Cathal McCarthy but was ruled out following VAR Matthew MacDermid’s advice to referee Duncan Nicolson that the ball had struck Mendy’s hand. Kilmarnock then went ahead through an own goal by Jamie McCart before Stephen Kingsley levelled in the 86th minute. “For me, when it’s such a clear situation, it’s strange that the VAR comes in between and rules wrong,” said the Belgian.
Aberdeen went ahead against Hibernian in the 17th minute through Kevin Nisbet, but Martin Boyle levelled from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after Jack Milne dragged Jason Kerr to the ground. Hibs were managerless with John Potter in interim charge following David Gray’s midweek sacking and had lost six successive games at Easter Road before earning the point.
Dundee defeated Motherwell 2-1 as Joe Westley, who had fractured his cheekbone against Hearts a fortnight ago, played in a protective mask and scored from the penalty spot before Bradley Fink doubled their lead; Alex Lowry pulled one back for the visitors. Steven Pressley said: “Joe showed great courage. But he gave a wonderful performance, without any trepidation. Joe was fearless in everything he did and to score a goal is really important for him because he lives off them.”
Dundee United beat St Mirren 3-0 with first-half goals from Jesse Randall, Lyall Cameron and Kevin Ciubotaru, and manager Jim Goodwin—making his first appearance in the dugout since a recent health scare—said: “On a personal note, it was great to be back. Certainly the best medicine that I could have hoped for was that type of result and performance.” St Johnstone rescued a 1-1 draw with Falkirk when Enes Alic struck from 25 yards in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cancel Ethan Ross’s goal on the hour after Cheick Diabaté had been sent off in the 54th minute.
The report lamented that Rangers could not celebrate the win with travelling supporters and described the fixture’s growing ugliness as a failure of the fanbases and of the authorities who have allowed it to fester. It concluded that Celtic would wake with the heavier heads on Monday morning.