Rangers fail to close on Celtic as both Old Firm clubs suffer shock defeats

Rangers’ poor season hit a new low as they lost 2-0 to St Mirren at Ibrox, ensuring Celtic remain 13 points clear in the Scottish Premiership despite losing 2-1 at Hibernian.

Philippe Clement received a public vote of confidence from Gers chief executive Patrick Stewart earlier this week, despite his team being well adrift in the title race and going out of the Scottish Cup to second-tier Queen’s Park.

On Saturday, they were booed off after suffering their first league defeat since Boxing Day – which also came against St Mirren.

Mikael Mandron’s 51st-minute opener was initially disallowed for a foul on Clinton Nsiala, but following a VAR review, it was deemed the Rangers defender had tripped himself.

That came after an earlier VAR intervention had gone Rangers’ way, with Hamza Igamane shown a red card for his lunge on Mark O’Hara, before his punishment was downgraded to a booking.

Cyriel Dessers missed a good chance to level in the 65th minute, and the game was put beyond Rangers when substitute Toyosi Olusanya curled in with 20 minutes to play.

That result moved St Mirren into the top six, while Rangers remain well adrift of Celtic despite Brendan Rodgers’ men suffering a rare defeat earlier on Saturday.

What a win for the Paisley Saints! pic.twitter.com/Z4gyOKIUiJ

— St Mirren FC (@saintmirrenfc) February 22, 2025

Josh Campbell struck a first-half double for in-form Hibs at Easter Road, with Celtic struggling for intensity four days on from their heartbreaking Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.

The midfielder found the bottom corner for a second-minute opener, then headed in Martin Boyle’s looping cross to make it 2-0 shortly before half-time.

Daizen Maeda pulled one back after 68 minutes and Celtic piled on the pressure in the latter stages, but Hibs held on through eight minutes of injury time for a deserved victory.

Hibs stay fifth with 37 points, three behind Dundee United in fourth, after dealing Celtic just their second domestic defeat of the season.

pic.twitter.com/AxSIrtW4Dl

— Hibernian Football Club (@HibernianFC) February 22, 2025