Rangers survived a nervy moment from Emmanuel Fernandez to beat Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead, with pundits saying the defender was fortunate to stay on the pitch.
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Former Scotland midfielder Andy Halliday believes Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez was fortunate to avoid a red card during Sunday’s Old Firm derby against Celtic at Parkhead, a match Rangers went on to win 1-0 to claim their second victory over their rivals in a week.
A Costly Foul That Went Unpunished
Fernandez had already been booked in the fourth minute before fouling Benjamin Nygren in the 16th, an incident the referee did not deem worthy of a second yellow card. Ryan Ndjieri scored the only goal of the match in the first half to hand Rangers a crucial win that moved them within two points of the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Halliday And Sutton Both Weigh In
Speaking after the match, Halliday said the challenge could easily have been enough for a second caution, describing Fernandez as lucky to escape it, and adding that the Nigerian would have had little room to complain had he been sent off. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton offered a similarly blunt assessment, calling the challenge reckless.
A Rocky Start, A Strong Finish
Fernandez had a difficult opening to the match but grew into the game as it progressed, ultimately playing his part in Rangers holding on for the win. He will now turn his focus to international duty, with the Super Eagles set to face Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.
