RANGERS leave Parkhead ‘pleased’ with their point according to manager Steven Gerrard.
The Light Blues gave so much to this third Old Firm game of the season where Alfredo Morelos netted his first goal in the fixture to cancel out a Mohamed Elyounoussi opener for the home side.
It’s been a period of highs and lows for Gers of late, but Gerrard was satisfied with the efforts his Champions gave in the East End this afternoon.
Speaking to RangersTV, he explained: "We have come here with a game plan to try and win the game, but unfortunately, we couldn't do that.
"But, we are pleased with the point. Obviously it is a difficult place to come and Celtic had some good periods of the game and had some chances and we had some real good opportunities and moments ourselves.
"The lads have been on a hell of a journey in the last two or three weeks. I am pleased with the resilience we showed today - we lacked a little bit of energy at times and maybe a little bit of quality around the box, but, all-in-all, the season so-far from a domestic point of view has been super strong, and this is a tough place to come so we will take the point and move on.
"We wanted to bring energy into the game and we knew what we have had to give over the last two weeks, not just physically, but emotionally as well.
"This was a tough fixture - it always is in the calendar, but we knew if we could stay in the game around the hour mark we knew we had a lot to throw at it and we tried to throw what we did.
"We had a couple of breakaways and opportunities and set-plays, but we just couldn't manage to go and grab the game.
"But is was finely set for both sides to go and grab it, but unfortunately nobody did."
The resilience Gerrard mentioned was there in spades – and he sees that as an area which has developed massively for his men.
"We have come on leaps and bounds in that department,” he continued. “We have played all season with character, we have played with ambition and when we have had to fight, we have fought. When we have had to play, we have played and we have always found a way to get results and that's the reason why we are unbeaten.
"A lot of people on the outside are talking about 'can we stay unbeaten until the end of the season?'
"That is a sideshow for me. The important thing is to get ready for the next game and the priority now is to try and win the Scottish Cup.
"I will use the squad in certain games from now until the end of the season to get people minutes and opportunities, and we roll forward.
"But that is three Old Firms we have played this season and we have taken seven out of nine points - before I walked in the door, we hadn't won one in 10 or 11 so we are doing okay."
Morelos’ goal, fittingly, was his 55th league goal for the club and his 16th of this campaign so far.
On his strike, Gerrard continued: "It is another big positive to take away. I am sure he will be very relieved and we knew we could cause them problems on set-pieces.
"It was the first decent bit of quality we showed from a set-piece point of view. Leon [Balogun] did fantastic and that is a reason why we put him in the team as he is a threat in both boxes, but also, his experience - he got a good run, a god header and Alfredo gobbles it up at the back post.
"I am really pleased for him."
It’s the international break now, with Gers now playing again until the weekend of April 3 or 4 when Cove Rangers visit Ibrox in the Scottish Cup.
Gerrard added: "I think the players will be pleased to hear a different voice in-terms of the international lads - a different way of playing with different styles.
"They can go and enjoy their international breaks now and be really proud of themselves.
"And the lads who are staying behind, we'll give them some time with their families and we will get them ready for Cove Rangers which is our next game."
RANGERS: McGregor, Balogun, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Kamara, Davis, Aribo, Hagi, Kent, Morelos.
SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Defoe, Itten, Zungu, Patterson, Wright, Roofe, Arfield.