In an unexpected twist this week in the Scottish Premiership, both Rangers and Celtic found themselves reeling from surprise defeats. Rangers, suffering a 2-0 loss to St Mirren at Ibrox, has seen their season edge deeper into disappointment. Despite staying 13 points ahead in the league, Celtic was handed a 2-1 defeat by Hibernian, adding to a week of setbacks for both teams.
Rangers' Struggles Continue
The defeat to St Mirren was a bitter pill for Rangers fans to swallow, marking their first league loss since Boxing Day, a match which also ended unfavorably against St Mirren. What’s more, the match was clouded with VAR controversies that only added fuel to the fans' frustrations. Mikael Mandron struck St Mirren's opening goal in the 51st minute, a point initially marred by a disallowed status due to an apparent foul on Rangers' Clinton Nsiala. However, after a thorough VAR review, it was shown that Nsiala had, in fact, tripped himself, leading to the goal being reinstated.
As the game progressed, Cyriel Dessers squandered a promising chance to draw level in the 65th minute for Rangers, before substitute Toyosi Olusanya by St Mirren netted a stunning curling finish with 20 minutes left on the clock, sealing the defeat for Rangers. The chants from the stands turned to boos as the final whistle blew, reflecting the deep sentiments of discontent among the Rangers supporters.
St Mirren’s impressive performance propelled them into the top six, while Rangers' loss left them staring at a 13-point gap behind fierce rivals Celtic.
Celtic's Rough Week
The atmosphere was hardly brighter on Celtic’s side, as their defeat came closely after an exit from the Champions League following a clash with Bayern Munich. The match against Hibernian saw Celtic struggling to find their rhythm, succumbing to a first-half double from Hibs’ midfielder Josh Campbell. Striking within the first two minutes and then again, heading in Martin Boyle's cross, Campbell put Celtic on the back foot before halftime.
Even as Daizen Maeda pulled one back after the 68th-minute mark, reducing the deficit, Celtic couldn’t break Hibernian’s defensive resilience during the extended stoppage time. It marks Hibs’ second joyful victory over Celtic this season at home, placing them fifth in the standings with tight competition for higher placings. Celtic’s loss further underscores their recent struggles with maintaining momentum across both domestic and international competitions.
This series of events reminds us that in football, surprises lurk around every corner, and even the giants of Scottish football aren’t invulnerable to unexpected turns.
Amanda Kelly
March 5, 2025 AT 01:04This is why Scottish football is a joke. Rangers and Celtic think they're Manchester United but they can't even beat mid-table teams. The league is a farce. I've watched the Premier League for 20 years and this is amateur hour.
VAR should be scrapped entirely. It's not fixing anything - it's just making fans angrier. That Mandron goal was clearly offside, and the fact they let it stand proves the system is broken.
And don't get me started on Celtic's defense. They look like they're playing against a youth academy. No discipline. No structure. Just pure chaos.
Someone needs to tell these clubs they're not in the Champions League anymore. They're not elite. They're just rich clubs with delusions of grandeur.
I'd rather watch the Scottish Championship than this nonsense. At least there, the teams actually try to win.
Also, why does anyone still care about this league? It's irrelevant. The whole thing is a relic. Time to move on.
Jessica Herborn
March 5, 2025 AT 05:51you know... life is like football... sometimes the giants fall... not because they're weak... but because they forgot to be humble
the universe has a way of teaching us... when we think we're above the game... it reminds us we're just players... even if we wear fancy jerseys and have million dollar stadiums
maybe rangers and celtic needed this... maybe they needed to feel the dirt... to remember what real passion looks like... not just money and trophies
st mirren and hibs... they played with their hearts... not their balance sheets... and that's the real victory isn't it?
i cried when mandron's goal stood... not because i'm a st mirren fan... but because i saw truth in that moment... the truth that justice isn't always perfect... but it's still real
we are all just trying to find meaning in chaos... and football... it gives us that... even when it hurts
so let them fall... let them rise again... and maybe this time... they'll play for love... not just for the name on the front
Lakshmi Narasimham
March 6, 2025 AT 06:08Both teams have been coasting for years relying on legacy and fan loyalty not performance
St Mirren had better organization and work rate that's it
Celtic's midfield was asleep and Hibs capitalized on that simple
No VAR conspiracy the ref got it right
Everyone acts like this is the end of the world it's just one loss
Why do you think these clubs keep spending millions if they're so fragile
They need to rebuild from the bottom not cry about bad luck
Their players are overpaid and underperforming that's the real issue
Stop making excuses and fix the system
Madhuri Singh
March 7, 2025 AT 05:24lol at rangers fans acting like the sky is falling
st mirren played their hearts out and they deserve every bit of this
celtic? same old same old. they think they're gods but they can't even keep a clean sheet
at least hibs showed up. rangers looked like they forgot how to run
maybe this is what they needed. a good slap in the face
imagine if the whole league was like this every week. would be way more fun
still love the game even when the big boys choke. it's real. it's raw. it's beautiful
Amanda Dempsey
March 8, 2025 AT 23:14This is why Scottish football is irrelevant
Two clubs with billion-dollar budgets lose to teams that can't afford decent boots
VAR is a scam
They're not even trying anymore
It's embarrassing
Fix your systems or shut up
Who even watches this anymore
Ruth Ellis
March 9, 2025 AT 03:30These losses are proof America was right to ignore Scottish football
It's a glorified regional league with no global relevance
Why are we even talking about this
Real football is played in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A
These teams are just local clubs with delusions
Let them wallow in their own mediocrity
They don't deserve the spotlight
It's not a scandal. It's just reality