Don Robertson's competent officiating overshadowed the controversial calls of past derbies, allowing Rangers to secure a dominant 3-0 victory over Celtic.
There will be no scathing letters sent from Govan to Hampden's fifth floor this weekend. Nor will Patrick Stewart be posting a P45 through Philippe Clement's mailbox after the under-pressure Belgian masterminded a long overdue derby triumph that may well have saved his job. Rangers were quick to point the finger at the SFA as not one but two damning statements were unleashed in the wake of December's controversial Premier Sport s Cup Final defeat.
Their grievances were backed up by Willie Collum as he publicly lamented bungling VAR officials Alan Muir and Frank Connor for failing to spot the stonewall penalty kick that proved so costly for Gers. This time, the SFA's ref chief tasked Don Robertson and VAR Nick Walsh with keeping a lid on an Ibrox Ne'er Day derby that some had flippantly labelled a dead rubber. And unlike last month’s explosive final, the team of officials at both Ibrox and Clydesdale House passed this test with flying colours. Whisper it, but Robertson can head home from his third Old Firm powderkeg feeling fairly satisfied. Sure, there were a few debatable calls that will always have rival fans grumbling on social media. But over the piece, Robertson showcased his experience to see through the afternoon without any major hiccups. Put it this way, there were no boiling flashpoints like his last derby in September 2023 - where there was an outcry over his decision to chalk off Kemar Roofe’s goal for a foul on Gustaf Lagerbielke. Aside from the unsavoury scenes at the end when Arne Engels was struck by an object from the stands, all of the headlines will be about Rangers tearing apart Brendan Rodgers' runaway leaders with a thumping 3-0 victory - ending Clement's winless six-game derby streak. Former top-flight whistler Des Roache was on Ref Watch for Record Sport as he exclusively delivered his verdict on the seven key talking point
FOOTBALL RANGERS CELTIC DERBY REFEREE
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