Pat Bonner speaks out on John Beaton decision during Celtic defeat to Rangers

Rangers continued their impressive run in the Scottish Premiership with another Old Firm victory over Celtic, but former Hoops goalkeeper Pat Bonner believes the match could have taken a completely different direction had referee John Beaton taken further action against Emmanuel Fernandez.

Derek McInnes’ side secured a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park, completing a league double over their rivals after their convincing 3-0 triumph in the previous derby.

Ryan Naderi was once again the difference-maker against Celtic, scoring the only goal of the contest in the 33rd minute.

The result marked Rangers’ fifth consecutive league victory and moved them to within two points of the Premiership leaders. Their run across all competitions is even more impressive, with six successive wins and only one goal conceded during that sequence.

Rangers deserved their victory after controlling significant periods of the match and limiting Celtic to very few clear opportunities. However, one first-half incident became a major talking point.

Fernandez had already been booked following an early challenge on Celtic forward Camilo Duran when he was involved in another incident roughly 15 minutes into the game.

The Rangers defender caught Benjamin Nygren near the touchline, prompting immediate appeals from Celtic players for Beaton to issue another yellow card.

A second booking would have resulted in Fernandez being sent off and left Rangers with ten men for the majority of the match.

Beaton opted against showing another card, a decision that frustrated Bonner while he was providing analysis for BBC Radio Scotland.

The former Celtic goalkeeper felt the referee had been reluctant to make such a significant call during a major fixture.

“I think the referee’s bottled it there, I’ll be honest with you,” Bonner said.

“He’s gone right through him there. If he’d not got a booking previously, he’s getting a yellow there.”

Fernandez ultimately remained on the field and played his part as Rangers protected their advantage.

The visitors then found the breakthrough through Naderi, who continued his impressive record against Celtic by producing another decisive moment in the 33rd minute.

Although the debate over whether Fernandez should have received a second yellow will continue, Rangers made sure the decision did not become the defining moment of the match.

McInnes’ team were particularly effective at restricting Celtic after taking the lead. The statistics underline their control, with Rangers registering 15 shots compared with Celtic’s five. Eight of the visitors’ attempts were on target, while Celtic managed just one effort that tested the Rangers goalkeeper.

The numbers suggest Rangers were comfortable for much of the contest and could even feel they should have won by a larger margin.

For McInnes, the victory represents another important milestone in Rangers’ recent resurgence. Their title challenge appeared far less convincing earlier in the season, but the current sequence of results has dramatically improved their position.

Five straight league wins have taken Rangers to within two points of the top, while their six-game winning streak in all competitions has generated significant momentum.

They have now beaten Celtic twice in quick succession, first with a 3-0 victory and then with a narrow triumph at Celtic Park. Repeating that level of performance in consecutive Old Firm fixtures represents a significant boost for McInnes and his players.

Celtic, meanwhile, will have plenty to consider after struggling to create enough attacking pressure. Their limited number of shots highlighted the difficulty they experienced in breaking through a Rangers side that defended its advantage effectively.

Beaton’s decision involving Fernandez will undoubtedly remain part of the post-match discussion, particularly among Celtic supporters. Whether the challenge warranted a second booking is ultimately a matter for debate, but there is little doubt that a red card at that stage could have dramatically altered the contest.

Instead, Rangers kept eleven players on the pitch, took their opportunity when it arrived and successfully defended their lead.

The latest Old Firm victory therefore means more than another three points for McInnes’ side. Rangers have demonstrated that they can handle pressure, protect a narrow advantage and produce results against their biggest rivals.

Their recent form has brought them firmly back into the title conversation, while Celtic now face the task of responding quickly to prevent their rivals from making further progress.