Russell Martin finds positives in one of poorest Old Firm derbies
A goalless Old Firm derby leaves Rangers winless in four Premiership matches and facing their worst league start in 42 years, but manager Russell Martin finds a silver lining in the defensive display.
Zero shots on target, no wins in four Premiership games and the worst league start in 42 years.
Yet despite the dire build-up to the Old Firm derby, Rangers boss Russell Martin will take encouragement from a goalless draw with Celtic.
Poor attacking display
Sunday's encounter produced the lowest combined expected goals (xG) total—just 0.32—since the metric was introduced in 2019-20. Rangers failed to register a single shot on target, a first in a league match since January 2021, while Celtic managed only two attempts, none before half-time for the first time since November 2017.
Rodgers' side arrived after extra-time and a long return flight from Kazakhstan, yet the lack of attacking threat underlines their struggles in front of goal. Defensively, however, Rangers improved markedly from their six-goal defeat in Club Brugge.
Martin's relief and lingering pressure
Rangers' only win in seven matches is a League Cup victory over Alloa, conceding twice in that tie. Their four-game winless league start is the worst since 1983, and they have now gone five league matches without a victory—a club low in the Premiership era.
Still, a clean sheet and a more disciplined performance offer Martin a platform during the upcoming international break. "I'm proud of the players' fight, desire and togetherness," he said. "We now have something to hunt."
Rangers sit six points off the league leaders, but a draw in the derby eases immediate pressure ahead of challenging fixtures against Hearts, Hibernian and in the Europa League against Genk.
The goalless Old Firm derby may have been one of the dullest in recent history, but it delivered Rangers their first Premiership clean sheet under Russell Martin and a much-needed defensive boost.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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