Ten-man Rangers suffer Old Firm heartache at Hampden

Celtic were denied the opening goal after a VAR check ruled out a Nico Raskin own goal. Johnny Kenny broke the deadlock with a header from a corner. Aasgaard saw red and Auston Trusty should have followed.

A James Tavernier penalty brought Rangers level ten minutes from time. His opposite number, Callum McGregor restored the lead three minutes after the restart. Callum Osmand settled it in the second period of extra time.

Read more:

• Steven Davis responds to speculation linking him with Rangers coaching role
• Steven Gerrard explains reason why he didn't take Rangers job which was 'very close'

Loss cannot come at a bigger cost

The aftermath of a defeat to Celtic is never the time to search for positives or to expect plaudits. Rohl and his players will, in time, perhaps receive some praise for the way they performed in adversity here. But this loss will hurt, and so it should.

The wins over Kilmarnock and Hibernian had changed the narrative and the mood around Rangers. Rohl had been forgiven for the defeat on his debut in Bergen and then given supporters something to believe in, something to get behind, heading to Hampden. In the end, the limitations of the squad were evident once again.

Nobody who took their seats decked out in red, white and blue suddenly had huge faith in these players. How could they? This is a side that had so much to prove, and still does. The task ahead of Rohl was not going change, regardless of the outcome here and this squad needs reinforcements in January if it is going to challenge for the Premiership.

This afternoon was evidence that there is little between these two sides. The five point deficit across the Old Firm divide is not insurmountable. The gap to Hearts, of course, is a different matter and that is the unknown in the equation for both Rohl and whoever gets the job at Parkhead.

The challenge now is to ensure this defeat does not derail the season. Roma visit Ibrox on Thursday evening for a Europa League fixture that is largely meaningless. The trip to Dundee next weekend must be taken care of if Premiership momentum is to be built. As sore as this one was, it cannot come at a bigger cost now.

Rangers had their chances

He just had to score. The pass from Mohamed Diomande split the Celtic defence and found Youssef Chermiti. With only the keeper to beat from six yards, the Portuguese somehow contrived to put his effort wide of the target. It was the clearest chance Rangers had created in the first quarter and heads were put in hands as questions were asked how Chermiti had not put Rohl’s side ahead.

The same accusation could be levelled at Raskin half an hour in. Danilo found the Belgian with a neat reverse pass and he only had Kasper Schmeichel to beat on the angle. His finish lacked conviction as the keeper saved and a second glaring opportunity was spurned.

A Tavernier free-kick picked out Chermiti in space at the back post. Rather than launching himself at it to head it home, he attempted to connect with his foot. A tangle of bodies saw the moment pass.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was everything the first 45 minutes were not. Rangers had tempo about their play, they showed intent and forced mistakes. Just where had that been earlier? That question has been asked so often about these players.

Even with ten men, Rangers created chances and asked questions of Celtic. Djeidi Gassama had the best opening as he burst in behind but a last-ditch challenge from Liam Scales denied him.

The equaliser came from the spot. Schmeichel went the right way but Tavernier’s penalty was clinical. It was no more than Rangers deserved at that stage.

Gassama was guilty at 2-1 as he failed to finish when one-on-one.

Big moments go Celtic’s way

The signs were ominous for Nasser Djiga inside the opening seconds. His first involvement saw him balloon a clearance into the stand, while his second allowed Celtic to break as he failed to control the ball in the midfield. When his blushes were saved by the VAR – the first Celtic opener ruled out after Djiga directed a clearance into Raskin before the ball ended up in his own net – there was already a thought that Rohl could have hooked the centre-half.

Celtic were not denied a few minutes later. Kenny got above Jayden Meghoma and beat Jack Butland with a header at the near post.

It had been coming. Sebastian Tounekti had fired over early on before Butland made a smart stop to deny Daizen Maeda. Another to thwart Kenny followed as Rangers fought for survival. Djia and John Souttar combined to gift Celtic another chance that Benjamin Nygren fired wide of target.

The game would have been over had an Engels curler found the far corner. Butland made an unbelievable save from a Nygren header. James Forrest rattled the crossbar and Rangers scrambled clear before Butland thwarted Osmand at 1-1.

McGregor made it 2-1. For the first time in the match, fingers could be pointed at Butland as a powerful effort from the Celtic captain went straight through the keeper. A save from an Osmand header kept Rangers in it but the striker got his goal as he converted a Kieran Tierney cross to put the match beyond doubt.

Did Rohl get it wrong?

Most of the spots picked themselves for Rohl once the decision to stick with a back three had been made. Tavernier was preferred as a wing-back rather than a centre-back and that ruled Gassama out of a start. Diomande got the nod ahead of Joe Rothwell, while Aasgaard was in ahead of Mikey Moore. Rohl will ponder if he got those decisions right. Given the impact that Moore and Gassama had, it is safe to say that the German probably didn’t.

The Gassama call was probably the biggest talking point but it did give Rohl a route to change the approach – a more direct, quicker presence – off the bench. With Moore, Oliver Antman, Findlay Curtis and Bojan Miovski also in reserve, Rohl had options at his disposal.

Gassama was the first switch that Rohl actioned at the break. Danilo was hard done by as Chermiti survived. He didn’t see the final stages as Miovski replaced him at the same time as Moore took over from Diomande.

It was a roll of the dice. The next one was Antman for Raskin at the start of extra-time. Max Aarons had taken over from Meghoma in the final minutes of the 90. With Antman, Tavernier and Moore in midfield and Djiga still at right-back, to say it was unconventional was an understatement. Djiga’s afternoon came to an end a long time after it could have done as Joe Rothwell was introduced.

Card calls go against Rangers

Both players were quick to state their case and plead their innocence. Only one was dismissed, though. The incidents were not identical – no two ever are, of course – but the feeling amongst the Rangers supporters that their side had been hard done by was one that was easy to sympathise with.

Aasgaard did not mean to catch Anthony Ralston in the groin as they competed for a loose ball on the edge of the Celtic area. There was no malice in the challenge but the Celtic defender took a sore one and the cameras picked up the wounds as Ralston showed off the marks on his thigh. It was unfortunate, but it was a red card.

A few minutes later at the other end, Trusty escaped with only a yellow. The defender told Nick Walsh that he didn’t mean to kick Butland in the head. When did that act become acceptable? Butland had the ball under his control and the dangled leg from Trusty was as naughty as it was dangerous and reckless. He had to go. Walsh was not as quick with the card this time and a VAR check confirmed his assertion that a yellow was justified. The Rangers end did not agree.

The decision not to give Ralston a second yellow card for a block on Gassama was just as bizarre. The one to not book him for the penalty was just as questionable.