Rangers 0-1 Celtic: Kyogo Furuhashi scores his 50th goal for the Bhoys to give Brendan Rodgers’ side the victory in the first Old Firm derby of the season

In a rare display of unity before an Old Firm match, it was widely agreed that this was a match Michael Beale could not afford to lose.

After another puffy, uninspiring performance against Celtic in a game that really mattered, these are now perilous times for the Rangers manager. The boos around a then half-empty Ibrox told their own story.

During his first spell as manager of Celtic, it felt like Brendan Rodgers had some kind of hex over the Ibrox club and their managers. In thirteen encounters he lost only one, landing some serious blows along the way to Mark Warburton and Graeme Murty, among others.

There was nothing reckless or fluid about this latest triumph. It was dogged, brave and as unexpected as any Celtic win over Ibrox in recent times.

With his sixth goals in his last five Old Firm, Kyogo Furuhashi’s emergence as a match winner began as a surprise to no one. In other parts of the field, a makeshift patched-up Celtic squad had unexpected heroes all over the field.

A difficult and difficult transfer window ended with the champions of Scotland scrambling in the transfer window and signing three players. Two of the new signings, Liverpool defender Nat Phillips and Paulo Bernardo, failed to make it onto the bench here.

Liam Scales, a defender who has been written off as a liability, was excellent. His young central defense partner Gustaf Lagerbielke was lucky, but survived an Old Firm baptism of fire. Captain Callum McGregor defied all that bullshit because he lost a yard of pace. Matt O’Riley – the subject of a failed bid from Leeds United mid-week – was man of the match.

Make no mistake. After the trauma of losing to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup and a dismal draw against St Johnstone, this was a huge win for Rodgers. A timely reminder of why major shareholder Dermot Desmond moved heaven and earth to get him back this summer. And one in the eye for anyone who took one look at the Celtic team sheet and obviously feared the worst. This was Celtic’s first clean sheet at Ibrox for six years.

For Michael Beale, defeat to a Celtic patchwork is in the making, adding pressure after a 5-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

People sometimes talk as if the Ibrox boss is new to the job. After nine months in office, that’s just not true.

While the need for a summer rebuild may have made it feel that way, the Ibrox, like Rodgers, will now face probing questions about the club’s transfer activity. Not to mention the expected inability to pressure and mislead Celtic’s midfield.

Despite spending £13 million on new attackers, Kemar Roofe is still ranked as having the best chance of a goal.

Rangers believe he should have been given one after 28 minutes, when the Jamaica international was dismissed by a controversial and contentious VAR call.

The goal would have stood in the days before the VAR. Nervous young Swede Lagerbielke was caught in possession and overpowered by Cyriel Dessers 30 yards from his own goal. The Nigerian ran in and resisted the temptation to shoot himself, but took on Kemar Roofe. The striker kept his composure, took one tap and rammed the ball into the net.

While Ibrox erupted in joy and celebration, VAR did what VAR does; it killed the moment.

Asked to take a look by VAR official Alan Muir, referee Don Robertson walked over to the monitor to check for a possible foul. To the frustration and anger of the home side, Celtic were awarded the free kick.

A soft decision, the celebration of the 50,000 fans in Ibrox quickly turned to rage and fury and went downhill when Kyogo Furuhashi scored with the last kick of the half.

When Joe Hart launched the ball upfield, Connor Goldson’s unconvincing defensive header from the edge of his own area was thrown straight into the mixer by Matt O’Riley. The suspicion of offside against was quickly brushed aside; John Souttar played him onside. Despite missing two easier chances earlier in the half, the Celtic talisman smashed the ball into the corner of the net past Jack Butland from 18 yards out. It was a stunning finish.

If Rangers had the ball in the net after 38 seconds you would have had great chances if the 45 minutes ended like this.

Before starting a game – and then some – Scales lost his first header of the game 30 yards from goal. Cyriel Dessers rallied and gave Matondo the chance to ram the ball into the net. Rightly, the offside flag suppressed the wild party.

Gradually, Celtic – and their nervous defense – calmed down. In retrospect, the Parkhead side will feel they could have finished the game at half-time when Kyogo misstepd in front of goal and then failed to poke the ball past Butland from a narrow angle. Both were easier chances than the one he scored.

Celtic grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and could – probably should have – killed the game in the opening ten minutes of the second period.

No matter what anyone says about the new Rangers signings, Jack Butland’s excellence is unquestionable. The former England number one provided a big fingertip save when Liel Abada hit a blistering low goal on goal after 50 minutes. Even then, Daizen Maeda was just inches from Celtic’s second goal into the net.

Without inspiration and repeatedly giving the ball away, Rangers were living dangerously.

As the hour came and the two managers began looking at their bench, Kyogo blew another chance to bring some daylight between the two sides. Sent through the ball to a space in the Rangers half by an Abada. A bad first touch gave the Rangers defense time to scramble

Cutting in on his weaker foot, the goalscorer curled the ball harmlessly over the crossbar. On chances alone, he could have been staring at a hat-trick.

When Michael Beale made his move, it was hardly approved by anyone. The boos with which Danilo Kemar Roofe was removed were loud and unmissable. Ibrox was now a frightened old place.

Sam Lammers’ arrival was almost overlooked in Roofe’s kerfuffle, but really should have paid off in the 15th minute when the Dutchman collected a superb Nico Raskin ball. There was space, there was time and with Joe Hart making himself big, the last effort barely made it to the side net.

For most of the transfer window, Celtic supporters have been clamoring for Joe Hart to be replaced. Demanding a new goalkeeper replaces an old stager who has been written off as his best. When the former England number one made two big saves from Danilo in quick succession, the dissent quieted down a bit. There appears to be still life in the old dog.