Pat Bonner admits, ‘I’ll be honest…’ as he accuses an official of a major mistake in Rangers’ victory over Celtic.

Rangers strengthened their Scottish Premiership title challenge with another impressive Old Firm victory over Celtic, although former Hoops goalkeeper Pat Bonner believes the outcome could have been different if referee John Beaton had taken stronger action during the first half.

Derek McInnes’ side secured a narrow 1-0 victory at Celtic Park, completing a remarkable double over their city rivals after their emphatic 3-0 success in the previous meeting. Ryan Naderi once again proved decisive, continuing his excellent run against Celtic by scoring the only goal of the game after 33 minutes.

The result extended Rangers’ league winning run to five matches and moved them to within two points of the leaders. Across all competitions, the Ibrox club have now won six games in succession, conceding just once during that impressive sequence.

Emmanuel Fernandez outmuscles Camilo Duran in a seperate incident to his yellow card callCredit: Kenny Ramsay

Rangers were worthy winners, particularly because they controlled large portions of the match and dealt comfortably with Celtic’s attempts to find an equaliser after the interval. However, there was one first-half incident that left Bonner convinced Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez was fortunate to remain on the pitch.

Fernandez with Benjamin Nygren, many feel the Gers defender was very luckyCredit: Willie Vass

Fernandez had already been booked before the incident in question. The Rangers centre-back was shown a yellow card early in the match following a challenge on Celtic forward Camilo Duran.

Despite that early caution, Fernandez continued to contest challenges aggressively as Celtic tried to build attacking momentum. Around 15 minutes into the match, he was involved in another challenge, this time on Benjamin Nygren near the right touchline.

Celtic players and supporters immediately appealed for a second yellow card. Had Beaton produced another caution, Fernandez would have been dismissed and Rangers would have been forced to play with ten men for the remainder of the contest.

The referee, however, decided that the challenge did not warrant another booking. That decision sparked a strong reaction from Bonner while he was working as a pundit for BBC Radio Scotland.

Bonner believed Beaton had failed to make a difficult decision and suggested the referee had hesitated because of the consequences of sending a Rangers player off in such a major fixture.

“I think the referee’s bottled it there, I’ll be honest with you,” Bonner said.

“He’s gone right through him there. If he’d not got a booking previously, he’s getting a yellow there.”

The incident became an important talking point because Rangers went on to score their opening goal before half-time. Naderi, who had already impressed during the previous 3-0 win over Celtic, found the breakthrough after 33 minutes and gave the visitors a lead they would never surrender.

There will inevitably be debate over whether Fernandez’s challenge should have resulted in a second yellow card. The atmosphere surrounding an Old Firm fixture means decisions involving potential dismissals are always likely to receive significant attention from both sets of supporters.

From Rangers’ perspective, though, the decision allowed Fernandez to remain on the pitch and contribute to a defensive performance that ultimately secured another memorable victory at Celtic Park.

The statistics also underline how well McInnes’ team performed. Rangers registered 15 shots during the contest, compared with just five from Celtic. The visitors also managed eight attempts on target, while Celtic could only produce one.

Those numbers demonstrate that Rangers were not simply fortunate to leave Parkhead with three points. They created more opportunities, restricted Celtic’s attacking threat and looked capable of extending their advantage during several moments of the match.

Celtic spent the majority of the second half searching for an equaliser after Naderi had put Rangers ahead. Yet despite having plenty of time to change the outcome, the home side struggled to create clear opportunities against a Rangers defence that remained organised and disciplined.

Rangers could even argue that they deserved to win by a wider margin. Their ability to protect the lead under pressure was particularly impressive, especially given the expectation that Celtic would eventually find a way back into the game on home soil.

For McInnes, the victory represents another significant step in Rangers’ recent revival. The club’s title prospects appeared considerably less convincing earlier in the campaign, but the current run has transformed the mood around Ibrox.

Five consecutive league victories have brought Rangers back to within touching distance of the leaders, while six wins in all competitions have created a sense of momentum that was difficult to imagine only a few weeks ago.

The incident in questionCredit: Sky Sports

Manny Fernandez lucky to escape a second yellow as John Beaton waves play on after a challenge on Benjamin NygrenCredit: Sky Sports

The manager deserves credit for the way his players have responded to the demands of the Old Firm fixtures. Winning the first derby 3-0 was already a major statement, but following it with another victory at Celtic Park demonstrates that Rangers have been able to reproduce their level of performance against their biggest rivals.

Celtic, meanwhile, will have to examine why they struggled to threaten Rangers consistently. Having fallen behind, they needed a response, but their five shots and single effort on target illustrated just how difficult they found it to break down the visitors.

The defeat will also keep attention on Beaton’s decision involving Fernandez. While the referee ultimately allowed the defender to remain on the field, Bonner’s criticism ensures the incident will continue to be discussed by Celtic supporters.

Whether the challenge deserved a second yellow card remains a matter of interpretation, but there is no doubt it could have changed the contest dramatically if Rangers had been reduced to ten men.

Ultimately, however, Rangers took advantage of their opportunity, defended their lead superbly and left Celtic Park with another important victory. Their six-match winning streak, combined with their rapidly improving league position, means the title race now looks very different from how it appeared earlier in the season.

McInnes and his players can take confidence from a result that was backed by the numbers as well as the scoreline. Rangers were more productive in attack, stronger defensively and composed when Celtic attempted to force an equaliser.

The latest victory therefore carries significance beyond the three points. Rangers have shown that they can manage pressure, defend a lead and punish Celtic when opportunities arrive. For supporters, the change in results has created belief that their team can remain involved in the title battle. Celtic, by contrast, must find answers quickly if they are to prevent Rangers from gaining further ground.

For now, Rangers have every reason to celebrate a famous win, while Celtic are left to reflect on another disappointing derby and the controversial decision that Bonner believes went their opponents’ way.