'We deserved it': Barry Ferguson shares pride in Rangers' derby victory

Barry Ferguson revelled in his Rangers side’s dramatic 3-2 victory at Celtic Park – and said his players fully deserved three points for their efforts in the hard-fought derby.

Rangers took an early lead through Nicolas Raskin at the home of their rivals, and were two goals ahead at half-time after Mohamed Diomande doubled his side’s advantage.

But Celtic fought back with goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate to set up a thrilling finale as both sides chased a winner.

Hamze Igamane rose to the occasion, with the Rangers substitute scoring from the edge of the box to sell a win against the odds, and Rangers’ interim management team celebrated a derby victory with the players and travelling support at full-time.

“It’s certainly a good feeling, coming to your fiercest rivals and deserving to win the game,” Ferguson said.

“So I just said to the players, listen, go and enjoy the next couple of days because it’s been a long time, I think five years.

“But I think if you look at the game overall, we deserved it.

“I thought the first half, that was the game plan we came with. I thought the boys stuck to it perfectly.

“The second half, you always know Celtic are going to come at you because the crowd is getting frustrated.

“I thought Brendan would make a change or two, he certainly did that.

“It made a difference to the Celtic team. They obviously get back into the game at two each, but then I take a step back and what I’ve been trying to drum into the boys, it’s more you need at Rangers than being a good player.”

The win means Ferguson can add a derby win as a manager to his achievements as a Rangers player and captain, and he was inevitably asked if he wanted to secure the job on a permanent basis, having only signed a short-term deal to take charge after Philippe Clement’s departure.

“I’m not even thinking, if I’m being honest with you,” he said. “I’m thinking, just make sure I go on a good run, this group of players keep trying to improve every single day we’re in training and then come the end of May, I’ll be away on a family holiday.

“Honestly, if you know me and anybody who’s close to me, I don’t think further ahead in my contract.

“So what I’ve got a job to do is to come in here and sort a few issues, slowly but surely.

“Myself and the coaching staff, and everybody who’s still at the club, we’re going in the right direction.

“But there’s still a lot of things that we can improve on as a group of players, but also within the training centre, and that’s something that we’re desperate to do.”

With the domestic fixtures now on hold for the international break, Ferguson said it was a time for some players to rest up ahead of the Premiership run-in and the looming Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao.

After defeating Fenerbahce over two legs and winning the Old Firm derby, he said that confidence would be high when the players regroup.

“It’s always a difficult place to come and get three points,” he said. “I’m going to give them a bit of time away. There’s a lot of internationals going away.

“I’m going to give them a bit of rest. Put my trust in them. I’m going to spend a bit of time with the family.

“Then we’ll come in and tackle the remaining games of the season domestically. And obviously, we’re in the last eight in Europe.

“It’s got to give them confidence. Certainly with the last three results.”