Rangers Enter International Break Two Points Behind Celtic After Derby Wins
The short version
- Rangers beat Celtic twice in a row, moving within two points of the Premiership summit
- Next league match is at home to Kilmarnock on 10 October; a win would put Rangers top
- Celtic have lost three straight and face Motherwell away the day after Rangers play
- Manager Derek McInnes cautioned the derby win earned only three points in a long season
Back-to-back victories over Celtic have put Rangers within two points of the Premiership leaders heading into a three-week break.
Derek McInnes has guided Rangers to consecutive victories over Celtic, the latest coming at Celtic Park in a result that leaves his side two points behind the Premiership leaders. The wins are regarded as the team's strongest performances since the manager took over.
The international break now interrupts that run, with several players away from training for close to a fortnight. Rangers resume with a home fixture against Kilmarnock on 10 October, and a win in that match would take them top of the table.
Celtic, meanwhile, are on a three-match losing streak and travel to Motherwell the following day. McInnes has emphasized that the derby win was worth only three points in a long campaign, while acknowledging the significance of avoiding a scenario in which an eight-point gap would have opened.
The turnaround marks a sharp change from Rangers' form just weeks ago, with the squad now described as sharp, hungry, and clear on individual roles, though further work remains before silverware is decided.
