Graeme Murty proud of Rangers display in goalless draw at Celtic

Rangers manager Graeme Murty (2nd from left) with Ross McCrorie (SNS Group / Craig Foy)

RANGERS manager Graeme Murty felt his side were well worth the point they earned from a 0-0 draw at Celtic and could even have come away with all three.

Celtic enjoyed the better of the first half but after the break the visitors were on top and only a couple of crucial saves from Hoops goalkeeper Craig Gordon denied them what would have been an unlikely win.

Murty told Sky Sports Main Event: “They had moments in the first half where perhaps we were a bit fortunate. Good blocks and good saves.

“We had opportunities to go and win the game and I’m really proud of how the players stood up to a big challenge at a great stadium. I thought we put on a real good spectacle, the two of us.

“We could have won the game. I can’t fault the guys. They gave absolutely everything today. I said last time when we walked out of here (after another draw) it was with a feeling of a job well done. I feel now we’re at the start of a very big job.

“I think this is a fantastic place to come and watch football and be involved in football. It’s a fantastic stadium. A club like Rangers have to want to excel in a place like this. And I thought the guys did that today so for myself I did enjoy it during the game and now I’m satisfied with what we’ve done and I’m proud of what the players did.”

Celtics Moussa Dembele (left) and Rangers David Bates (right) (Jeff Holmes/PA Wire)

David Bates came off the bench in the 18th minute following an injury to Bruno Alves and Murty was delighted with the 21-year-old’s display.

He added: “Players need to know that you trust them as a manager and I trust them all. Trust is a very, very sacred thing. It’s really easily lost and David’s not done anything since I’ve been at the football club to lose my trust so throwing him into a stadium like this, into a cauldron like this, there was never a second thought.

“We made sure David was prepped and organised. Once they go onto the pitch you have to trust your players to go out and play. We managed to do that and he came on and he excelled.”

Rangers’ Jason Holt (left) is tackled by Kristoffer Ajer (SNS Group)

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers agreed that on the balance of play a draw was a fair reflection of the game.

“It was a very frantic game,” he said. “I thought that we created the better chances in the first half. It wasn’t a great game of quality, I don’t think, throughout the 90 minutes but certainly we had the better chances of the first half and probably Rangers will say that they had the better second half.

“We looked as if we could threaten but couldn’t make that breakthrough in the final third of the pitch. I think we’ve shown in these games if we get that goal especially early on then that really sets us off and opens the game up a little bit for us but all in all a point for both teams was what each team deserved.

“The longer it goes on when you don’t score it gives a bit of oxygen to the opponent. I thought they had one or two chances second half, one really good chance when Craig Gordon makes an unbelievable save. I’ve seen it over many years in these games, especially as the home team, you can end up losing a game like that 1-0. So for us to keep another clean sheet in the ninth game of the month I can only give credit to the players.”