Dan Neil shone as Rangers secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Celtic in the Scottish League Cup, marking Derek McInnes' first win in the Old Firm derby as Rangers' boss. The match took place amidst a ban on away fans due to ongoing disputes over ticket allocations, creating a vibrant atmosphere at Ibrox.

The excitement erupted in the 22nd minute when Neil, who joined from Sunderland this summer, scored his inaugural goal for the Gers, striking beautifully from the edge of the box. Kevin Kelsy added a second in the 59th minute, netting his first goal in Light Blue, before Neil sealed the match with his second goal in the 75th minute, propelling Rangers into the semi-finals.

This defeat marked the first domestic loss of the season for Celtic, who struggled to pose a significant threat to the Rangers' goal. However, they will seek revenge as the two sides are set to clash again in the Scottish Premiership next Sunday, despite the absence of visiting fans.

Both teams made alterations for their first derby of the season. Rangers replaced Badredine Bouanani with Kim Min-su, while Celtic welcomed back Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren, and Camilo Duran. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone retained his position after a shaky debut against St Johnstone.

The match saw early chances for both sides. Rangers' Kelsy missed a golden opportunity in the 4th minute, and Celtic's Kasper Hogh faltered in the 12th minute, failing to convert a promising pass. The breakthrough came from Ryan Naderi, who set up Neil for the opening goal after battling with Carter-Vickers.

Celtic's Johnstone redeemed himself with a crucial save from Kim's effort, but the momentum remained with Rangers as they doubled their lead shortly after. Despite a disallowed goal for offside, the hosts continued to press, culminating in Neil's stunning finish that confirmed their dominance.

The match concluded with jubilant Rangers fans celebrating their team's emphatic performance as the final whistle blew.