Callum McGregor’s own-goal in the second half was the difference between the teams, with goalkeeper Allan McGregor putting in a ‘Man of the Match’ performance at the other end for his side.
Before kick-off, both teams fell silent as a mark of respect on this, the 50th anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster. The 66 who passed will be Always Remembered.
From the team which faced St Mirren on Wednesday, Leon Balogun and Ryan Kent came into the side in place of Fil Helander and Ianis Hagi.
That meant it was a back five of Allan McGregor in goal with James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Balogun and Borna Barisic in front of him.
Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo were in midfield, while up front, Kent and Kemar Roofe played in support of Alfredo Morelos.
It was the visitors who had the first chance of the game after just three minutes. Odsonne Edouard tested McGregor with an angled shot before James Tavernier made a good block to deny Callum McGregor a rebound.
Leigh Griffiths then worked McGregor again with an effort, while Callum McGregor saw a strike go just wide.
Good pressure from Rangers allowed Alfredo Morelos to get a shot away inside the area, with Jeremie Frimpong clearing the Colombian’s effort away from danger.
Allan McGregor then made an outrageous save from a curling, Griffiths effort to turn it onto the post, while a neat flick from Kemar Roofe almost put Morelos in, but Diego Laxalt was there with a good tackle to stop that happening.
Ianis Hagi replaced Roofe at the interval, and the Romanian had the first shot of the second half, a super, curling effort which only just went by Vasilis Barkas’ post from 25-yards.
Ryan Christie made a good block to deny Morelos getting a shot away on the turn following fine Aribo work, while Leon Balogun made a super, last-ditch tackle on Edouard to prevent him troubling McGregor.
Then, on 62 minutes came the first major flashpoint of the game. A super ball down the right channel from Tavernier allowed Morelos to brilliantly turn Nir Bitton.
The Colombian was in on goal, but Bitton hauled him back leaving referee Bobby Madden no alternative but to show the Celtic defender a straight red card.
The foul afforded Gers a free-kick out on the right corner of the area, which Tavernier delivered to the back post where Ryan Christie cleared.
All of a sudden, it was all Rangers. The passing game was there, the pressing and the harrying was there and chances were coming too.
An amazing run by Tavernier took him to the edge of the area before being fouled by Laxalt. Borna Barisic took the resulting free-kick which was deflected behind for a corner.
And from that corner, Rangers took the lead. Tavernier’s superb ball was lanced on at the front post by Joe Aribo, before Callum McGregor sent the ball beyond Barkas and into his own net.
It was just what Rangers were looking for, and while Aribo took the credit, the final, decisive touch definitely came off McGregor.
Substitute Shane Duffy was then lucky not to follow Bitton down the tunnel after a pretty wild lunge on Ryan Kent as he looked to break.
Kent then had an effort blocked by Duffy after the Celtic man gave him the ball with a loose clearance, while sub Cedric Itten had a fine effort from 20-yards go just over.
Balogun made another brilliant block on Edouard in injury-time, and that was to be just about that as Rangers saw the match out superbly well.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Aribo (Barker, 90) Davis, Kamara; Kent (Zungu, 87), Morelos (Itten, 77), Roofe (Hagi, 45)
SUBS NOT USED: McLaughlin, Bassey, Helander, Defoe, Patterson.
CELTIC: Barkas, Bitton, Griffiths (Duffy, 65), Soro (Brown, 72), Turnbull (Elyounoussi, 65), Christie (Elhamed, 72) Edouard, Frimpong, Ajer, McGregor (Rogic, 84), Laxalt.
SUBS NOT USED: Hazard, Taylor, Ajeti, Ntcham.
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