Derek Ferguson pinpoints Rangers defender who could cost them against Celtic

Emmanuel Fernandez could prove to be a weakness for Rangers when they face Celtic on Sunday.

Rangers will welcome their Old Firm rivals to Ibrox on 13 September, with the Nigeria international’s form coming under increasing scrutiny ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final.

Derek McInnes has the chance to make significant progress in the competition, but Celtic stand in the way of Rangers reaching the latter stages.

The biggest concern for the Ibrox outfit could be their defensive vulnerability, and Fernandez has emerged as one of the main areas of concern during the opening weeks of the campaign.

The 24-year-old has endured a difficult start to the season and has already attracted criticism for a number of performances.

Olwethu Makhanya and James Penrice have both impressed since arriving at Rangers, but Fernandez’s inconsistent displays could leave supporters questioning whether the defence is strong enough to cope with Celtic.

Derek Ferguson questions Emmanuel Fernandez’s Rangers form

Fernandez appeared fortunate to escape punishment during Rangers’ 1-0 victory over St Mirren after an incident involving Ismeal Kabia inside the penalty area.

Don Robertson and VAR official Steven McLean ultimately decided against awarding a penalty, despite suggestions that Fernandez had committed a foul.

Had the incident received greater scrutiny, the Rangers defender may have been penalised and St Mirren awarded a spot-kick.

Derek Ferguson admitted he had not watched the incident closely himself, although he had been informed that it should have resulted in a clear penalty.

The former Rangers player then questioned whether Fernandez’s lapse was down to laziness, arguing that such moments have become representative of the defender’s performances.

Speaking on Open Goal on 10 September, Ferguson said: “Is it lazy? Then that sums him up, doesn’t it? Just lazy. Losing concentration at times.”

He went on to compare Fernandez unfavourably with Makhanya, adding: “See the boy Makhanya, proper defender. He’s everything that Fernandez isn’t. You can actually see him; his mind is wandering. I think he’s too slow.”

Derek McInnes faces Rangers defensive dilemma

McInnes appears to have established some momentum at Rangers, with the team heading into the Celtic clash on the back of four consecutive victories.

The performances have not always been spectacular and Rangers have rarely overwhelmed opponents on the scoreboard, but they have developed a greater resilience and consistency when it comes to securing results.

However, their defensive record remains a concern. Rangers have managed only four clean sheets across their opening 11 matches, highlighting an area McInnes will want to improve.

The defence has looked more dependable during recent victories, but Fernandez has continued to produce moments that could worry both the manager and supporters.

That leaves McInnes with a difficult decision ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm meeting. Dropping Fernandez and disrupting his partnership with Makhanya would be a significant move, but allowing the Nigeria international to continue alongside him also carries its own risks against a Celtic side capable of exposing defensive weaknesses.