Ferguson-esque Neil 'ran the show' for Rangers

What the report says

Rangers reached the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals after a 3-0 win over Celtic, with midfielder Dan Neil emerging as the standout performer in the Old Firm derby. BBC Sport reported that former Rangers player Peter Lovenkrands said Neil "ran the show" and drew comparisons with Barry Ferguson for the way he controlled midfield, kept possession cleanly and dictated the tempo.

Neil scored twice at Ibrox, opening the scoring in the first half with a low finish from the edge of the box before adding another late on to seal a convincing victory. The 24-year-old, who joined Rangers on a three-year deal in July and has been part of Derek McInnes' leadership group, also wore the captain's armband in Lawrence Shankland's absence. McInnes said Neil's work, along with the contributions of Nicolas Raskin and James Penrice, helped Rangers gain control of the match.

The result sent Rangers into the last four of the League Cup and strengthened the sense of progress around the squad after recent difficult periods, according to McInnes. He highlighted the team's togetherness and preparation, while Neil said the players followed the manager's plan and made the most of the occasion.

The article also noted that Rangers and Celtic are due to meet again in the Scottish Premiership the following Sunday, adding further significance to the derby win.