Regardless of context, Glasgow knows no such thing as a meaningless Old Firm match. It just matters far too much for that.

Yesterday’s noise and colour was a reminder of just this. Yes, the game counted for tangibly less than the previous two fixtures narrowly won by Celtic and can’t change the direction of the league title, nor the narrative of this season. The overall campaign remains a disaster and the change occurring in every department confirms that feeling from within Ibrox.

After recent defeats, this was a counterpunch of sorts. An important moment for Michael Beale to earn his first win in the fixture and a game that Todd Cantwell grabbed, decided and didn’t let go of. If he can symbolise what Beale is striving to complete, there’s room for optimism. A comfortable and convincing 3-0 win paints optimistic strokes on the blank canvas Beale can work from this summer.

The past two meetings with Celtic have been decided by errors at one end and blunt edges at the other. The manager hasn’t really had a fighter's chance with the mistakes and lack of end product provided by his players but yesterday, the narrative changed.

“We took similar chances to the ones we've missed this year. it was a great strike from Todd and then I thought for the first 15 both teams played at a frantic pace, which is what this fixture is known for,” Beale said post-match.

“It was a feisty game and I was delighted with my team, I thought their energy was really good. In this fixture for the first time this year we executed in the boxes. The outcome is we won, it’s nothing more than that, we know that but it’s a nice feeling for the players and the fans going home.”

In the last meeting here, had Malik Tillman scored his one-on-one at 2-1 or a first goal not been gifted by way of an error, could the season have looked different? What about at Parkhead when each centre-back gave up a goal? Or most recently at Hampden, when a mind-boggling succession of mistakes decided the game?

Unlike clashes with Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic before Beale’s arrival there haven’t been huge glaring deficiencies between the teams or tactical disparities of late. Margins have been small and not in favour of Rangers.

All that’s not to say that drastic change isn’t required because it is. Rather, we can perhaps judge that Beale’s been getting the most out of his resources and has been unfortunate to not earn a result in this fixture until yesterday. We can surmise there's good reason to be optimistic about what he can do when his players arrive. 

READ MORE: The making of Todd Cantwell: Rangers' football-mad maverick's origins

Rangers went for the jugular from the off, offering no room to breathe in a narrow pressing shape, somewhat designed to cater for their lack of focal point up top. Cantwell set the tone early with an emphatic finish after John Lundstram stung Joe Hart’s hands, to do what Rangers have not done in an Old Firm game this season – take the lead in an Old Firm.

Then it was John Souttar’s turn to head home a corner. At each set-piece, Harry Watling can be seen next to Beale choreographing his men. It’s this attention to detail that’s turned attacking set-pieces from an unfulfilled piston to a far more deadly weapon.

Cantwell was thriving, as he has done ever since arriving from Norwich. Beale spoke of signing players who would grow and not shrink within the pressure of Ibrox in January and the 25-year-old, alongside Nico Raskin battling at the base of midfield, offered just that.

How many players have Rangers had to hang their hats on in this fixture? This season has been defined by a distinct lack of big-game players and in this pair, they appear to have two.

Cantwell is not only comfortable in Glasgow’s glare but right at home. Logic tells in a better-functioning team, with better-placed individuals around him, improvement is an inevitability.

Robby McCrorie too was excellent, a difference-maker in the sticks. Unpunished by Oh early on who hit the post, every action after then was performed to the letter. Quick off his line, the 25-year-old was an active participant always and commanded crosses to fall into his gloves.

Lundstram, freed from the shackles of defensive midfield, has the box-to-box qualities for this type of fixture and Souttar slotted in comfortably next to Connor Goldson. Ridvan Yilmaz, making just a fifth league start, was solid defensively and strong in possession.

Even then, before Cantwell won the ball back and Sakala rounded Hart to seal the win, the lack of incision in the front two was obvious. There was more potential for Rangers to fulfil. The forward line is where recruitment is most obviously required in the summer.

Perhaps, while the outcome of yesterday won’t tell us much, what the win showed is that Celtic aren’t untouchable. It had, after all, been nearly two years since Rangers defeated them in the league.

They're a very good team but not without deficiencies of their own. Both sides made changes after all, with neither at what would be considered full strength.

Rangers’ 2022/23 campaign will be quickly forgotten by all and this was a rare big moment in a season void of them.

“We will promise to build a stronger Rangers for next year and try do them proud,” Beale told Sky Sports.

His challenge going forward is to win these games on days that matter. The signs are there that with the overhaul to come, such dreams can be achieved.