The five burning questions of Philippe Clement’s Rangers following Celtic bonanza

The heart rates of Rangers supporters might just be returning to normal after what was a bonkers Old Firm derby v Celtic at Ibrox.

Rangers fought back from 2-0 down only to be pegged back with minutes to play before Rabbi Matondo turned the Ibrox hero.

Welsh international Matondo – just as he had against Hibs the week before – bent one beautifully into the top corner with the match finishing 3-3.

The game means it’s as you were in the title tussle and here are the five burning questions as the dust settles on an epic Old Firm encounter.

Did Philippe Clement get his starting XI wrong?

Don’t lie, you all felt it.

When Philippe Clement’s teamsheet was read out it didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

No Ridvan Yilmaz, not deemed fit enough, whilst Tom Lawrence’s inclusion over Todd Cantwell, and Scott Wright’s over Abdallah Sima, raised a few eyebrows.

With Dujon Sterling starting at left-back, and Fabio Silva in front of him, there was a distinct lack of balance in the side. From the kick off.

The mistake which led to that quickfire Daizen Maeda goal started out left and it stank out the entire first half.

In retrospect, Sterling has a solid game at left-back in the end but with Scott Wright hooked at halftime, Sima came on and scored.

There was a feeling Clement never got it quite right come the first whistle but his team of never-say-die troopers pulled him out of the line of fire.

Had the match not finished in a draw – a positive for Rangers given they were 2-0 down at half-time – the Belgian’s starting XI would’ve been firmly under the microscope.

Do James Tavernier & Connor Goldson have the bottle to see through title battle?

Criticisms aplenty were also reserved for James Tavernier and Connor Goldson throughout the match.

Whilst this near ever-present Ibrox pair came good in the game, the ex-Shrewsbury duo certainly don’t half have their doubters.

The moment James Tavernier slept on the ball and allowed Maeda to score within seconds, it felt like deja vu.

We speak a lot about that tussle and without Sterling in front to protect him, the Rangers captain was ran ragged in the first half.

Connor Goldson too fluffed his lines from a mis-headed header moments before conceding the penalty kick from a high elbow.

Rangers rallied in the second half and saved the Ibrox leadership duo’s blushes but if we fail to go on and lift the title, they will be in the crosshairs of Rangers fans.

Is Cyriel Dessers the man to lead Rangers’ front line?

Cyriel Dessers has had no luck in this fixture to date.

Setting Kemar Roofe up in the first Old Firm of the season only to have the goal harshly ruled out for the Nigerian striker’s earlier challenge, it was a moment that stung the hitman.

Celtic won 1-0 and as the Rangers number 9, that can only stand as evidence of your shortcomings.

The striker then hesitated in a crucial moment at Celtic Park, in yet another Rangers defeat, and this game threatened to be make-or-break.

It took Kyogo Furuhashi four goes to score in the fixture and Cyriel Dessers (almost) done it in three.

Having a quickfire equaliser after James Tavernier’s penalty had pulled one back eventually ruled out, it was a for foul at the beginning of the move.

Another harsh decision by the referee, it means the improving forward is still without an Old Firm goal.

To his credit, Cyriel battled Celtic stalwart Cameron Carter Vickers admirably and on another day things might’ve gone his way.

The jury remains out, but a goal at Celtic Park would likely change that.

Are Rangers about to see the potential of Rabbi Matondo realised?

Rabbi Matondo is a signing from the Ross Wilson era which used to hang over the former Rangers sporting director.

Fans had lambasted what was viewed as a dysfunctional transfer model and whilst the point very much still stands, the young Welshman has something.

Schalke paid Manchester City £11m to sign him back in 2019 but that potential has never really been recognised. Well, until very recently.

Now trademarking a curling effort from the corner of the box, that’s two in two for the winger for whom such outstanding moments of quality can only breed confidence.

Watching Rabbi Matondo curling those goals in, the winger still a bit stand-offish in the midst of the battle, there’s huge potential for everyone.

If Rabbi can harness those moments and lose any on-pitch sheepishness, Rangers have a top quality prospect on their hands.

Could Philippe Clement be the man to finally get Rabbi Matondo firing?

Rangers FC v Hibernian FC - Cinch Scottish Premiership
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

What does this result mean for the title race?

The big question.

With the game ending in a spectacular 3-3 draw, Rangers still technically boast the Scottish Premiership advantage.

Whilst Celtic retain a one point lead as things stand, Rangers have a game in hand on Dundee’s tragic Dens Park surface this coming Wednesday.

Win that, then it’s six games, eighteen points to play for, and only two in it between both sides.

Oh, and an Old Firm derby yet to come when Rangers travel to Celtic Park in the split.

How are your nerves?

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