Ange's Celtic never stopped but pulsating Tottenham draw shows Rangers are just getting started
Ange Postecoglou's Celtic never stopped. His Spurs side haven’t exactly had much joy finishing teams off lately.
In the end, a goal from substitute Dejan Kulusevski got them a point as the former Celtic boss made his return to Glasgow. But too bad for Philippe Clement that five-and-a-half months into the season and this is his Rangers only just getting started. Because make no mistake, had the Ibrox team kicked-off the campaign in the manner they did last night they’d be nowhere near 11 points behind Postecoglou’s old team.
The Aussie was back in town under pressure having seen the North Londoners’ form collapse on the back of a 4-0 mauling of Manchester City. If that was painful viewing for Pep Guardiola, this pulsating draw in front of an electrified Ibrox was every bit as uncomfortable for Postecoglou. Spurs have cash to burn but it was Rangers hearts that were fired with passion. Hamza Igamane put them ahead to launch a roar that could be heard all the way Down Under.
They’d have felt the shockwave from the moon had Cyriel Dessers finished either of the chances he had to win it. It’s a point that confirms Rangers’ place in the Europa League play-offs and it will underline the renewed sense of hope that is finally building around this resurgent team.
It’s now on to Hampden for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup Final. Repeat this display and then they’ll have every right to believe they can retain the trophy they won last season. They’ll have to hope John Souttar can shake off the knock that forced him off midway through the first half.
But after a season of gloom, there appears at last to be a brighter outlook over Ibrox. Clement sprung a surprise as he left out Connor Barron to face Postecoglou’s high-octane outfit. In came Robin Propper, Ridvan Yilmaz, Mohamed Diomande and Nedim Bajrami.
Postecoglou was dealing with a injury crisis but was still able to call upon big names like James Maddison, Son Heung-min and former Celtic keeper Fraser Forster. Forster, a veteran of 13 Old Firms, and former Aberdeen loanee Maddison knew what was awaiting them. But it fell on Postecoglou to warn his team to be ready for the red-hot reception.
Mind you, the visitors did their best to crank the temperature levels a couple of degrees more, making Rangers wait as they headed over to the corner housing the 2500 away fans for a pre-match huddle. If that was a show of cockiness from Spurs, it was matched by an equally confident start from Rangers. But it only took Postecoglou’s men minutes to give a peak of their lightening capabilities as Son spun away from Propper to tee up Werner, with the German whipping just over the bar.
Rangers were determined to prove they were a competitive unit too and Bajrami forced Forster into a stop. Souttar had to block a Maddison strike before Jefte rescued his own mistake after clearing a Rodrigo Bentancur cross at the back post.
But it was the home support that held their breath when Jefte fired over a teasing cross that only needed a touch for the opener. But with both Bajrami and Tavernier failing to connect, Ibrox gasped.
Yet it was a worried hush that descended 12 minutes from the break when Souttar went down. Losing the defender was a major blow but Rangers had no time to feel sorry for themselves as Leon Balogun got stripped. Jack Butland saved to deny Pedro Porro. The Spaniard would have been flagged offside had he netted but the keeper’s defiance was enough to crank the volume levels again.
Spurs survived as Vaclav Cerny’s effort was saved and cleared before Igamane could leap on the rebound. But all that was forgotten inside 90 seconds of the restart when the Moroccan kid finally had his say on proceedings.
With one sweep of his left foot he sparked an almighty din as he fired home from a vintage Tavernier cross. Spurs looked stunned, unable to comprehend the madness around them. But Rangers sensed the impossible was on.
Brennan Johnson swept wide on the counter-attack but it was Clement’s men swarming with belief and intent. Igamane almost got on the end of a training ground set-piece. Diomande drove a deflected shot wide.
Rangers just had to keep it clean. They certainly didn’t need Tavernier’s hospital pass into Raskin, which forced the Belgian to bring down Maddison on the edge of the box but fortunately his strike flew over.
With Rangers legs tiring Tottenham sensed it was time to step it up. Butland saved from Porro again but their pressure told in 75 minutes as Postecoglou was finally able to breath a sigh of relief. Kulusevski started it off as he drove in off the left before finding fellow sub Dominic Solanke.
Swiss ref Sandro Scharer looked set to blow for a penalty as Tavernier tripped Maddison but before he could point to the spot, Kulusevski appeared to reverse a smart shot past Butland. Rangers suddenly had a second wind and could have blown Spurs away late on. Dessers thought he had the winner after carving through on goal - only for Forster to make a crucial save.
He was in again seconds later to ram home from kid Robbie Fraser’s cross – but an offside flag had killed the celebrations seconds before.
