Rangers Star Reveals Secret Behind Celtic Double: Can The Defensive Structure Sustain This Resurgence? | OneFootball

Rangers have changed the mood around Ibrox with two Old Firm wins in seven days, and Ryan Naderi believes the squad’s unity has driven that revival. The forward scored the only goal at Celtic Park on Sunday, securing a 1-0 Premiership victory after last weekend’s 3-0 Premier Sports Cup win at Ibrox. The latest result has cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the table to two points before the international break.

Speaking to STV News, Naderi pointed to Rangers’ defensive work as a major reason. He said the players remain compact, communicate with the teammate beside them and regularly finish matches without conceding. That platform gives the attackers room to find decisive moments.

Naderi called the double over Celtic an “amazing feeling”, yet he warned the squad against getting carried away. A long season remains, so he wants the group to stay focused and keep working together.

“I think you see this togetherness by the goals we concede, not many. We play a lot of games to zero, which means that we are very compact.

“We work together, we look at each other, where the person next to you stands. Defensively, when you are so stable, you will always have chances to score, and then you win games.”

While the attacker is delighted with the recent upturn in form, he isn’t getting carried away as Rangers pursue silverware this season.

The summer signing said: “It’s awesome to be honest, to win two times against Celtic and then go into a break is an amazing feeling. You will carry this throughout the days and weeks off.

“We still have to understand we have a whole season in front of us still, so we should just keep this up, not fly too high, just stay focused and keep going as we are, stay together as a team.”

Can Rangers’ defensive structure sustain this resurgence?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Ryan Naderi of Rangers celebrates scoring the only goal of the game during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Glasgow Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

There is substance behind Naderi’s point, because Rangers have shown a change in how they protect central areas in these two derbies. McInnes kept the same starting XI for the Celtic Park match, following the 3-0 cup win, and that continuity helped the side maintain their shape. The approach restricted Celtic’s room through the middle and forced the hosts to search for openings elsewhere.

That matters because Rangers did not need a frantic performance to protect the lead. After Naderi struck in the 33rd minute, the visitors defended their advantage and created opportunities after the interval. McInnes later said his side deserved the three points and felt they could have scored more.

The earlier 3-0 victory provides another clue. Dan Neil scored twice, while Kevin Kelsy added another, but Rangers’ performance rested on collective pressure, compact spacing and disciplined work without the ball. Naderi’s “togetherness” therefore describes something visible in their defensive actions, rather than a vague dressing-room slogan.

Still, the title race needs more evidence before anyone can treat this surge as permanent. Two derby wins carry huge emotional value, but Rangers must reproduce the same defensive standards against teams that sit deeper and offer fewer open spaces. Their next league fixture after the break is Kilmarnock at Ibrox, while Celtic travel to Motherwell.

For now, the two-point gap gives Rangers room to build. The structure McInnes has established gives them a platform, but consistency will decide how far this run can go.