WINNING the Scottish title for the first time since their financial collapse in 2012 and preventing Celtic from completing 10-In-A-Row would have been more than enough to satisfy most Rangers supporters this season.
But Steven Gerrard and his players have romped to the Premiership with a swagger - and now look poised to make a little piece of history for good measure.
The enormously entertaining and ultimately emphatic 4-1 triumph at Ibrox yesterday ensured they went the entire season unbeaten by their city rivals for the first time in 21 years.
If they can avoid losing to Livingston away on Wednesday week and then Aberdeen at home three days later before they are presented with the league trophy then they will go undefeated in a top flight campaign for the first time since 1899 and only the second occasion in their 149 year existence.
Should James Tavernier and his team mates reach the levels they did in the final Old Firm fixture of this term they should achieve the feat comfortably and become ‘Invincibles’.
The Betfred Cup loss to St Mirren, the Europa League exit at the hands of Slavia Prague and the Scottish Cup penalty shoot-out disappointment against St Johnstone certainly hurt. There remains, despite the strides forward which have been made both on and off the park, scope for improvement.
Still, the league has, with their age-old adversaries on the verge of eclipsing the record-equalling run of title wins they completed in the 1990s, been the be all and end all for Rangers in the last nine months and on that front they have not been found wanting. This assured display and comfortable win was just a glorious late flourish.
Seeing Alfredo Morelos wind up Scott Brown, who has so often been his tormenter over the years, was an added bonus for their supporters. When the Colombian nutmegged the Scot, who was making his final appearance in a Glasgow derby, in the build-up to his goal it sent them into dreamland.
Celtic actually performed well for long spells of the encounter in Govan. They certainly showed guts to level through Odsonne Edouard at a David Turnbull corner shortly after Callum McGregor had been ordered off for a second bookable offence in the first-half.
Had Edouard, Mohamed Elyounoussi, James Forrest or Turnbull been more composed and clinical in the final third when they had other scoring chances then they could possibly have salvaged a draw. But that lack of conviction in attack has typified their calamitous season.
Steven Gerrard had to hand Jack Simpson only his second start for Rangers alongside Connor Goldson due to the absence of both Leon Balogun and Filip Helander. But the visitors were unable to trouble the new-look centre back pairing greatly.
Their hosts had no such difficulties taking their opportunities once again. Kemar Roofe opened his account in the world-famous fixture in the first-half when he chested a first-time Ryan Kent shot beyond Scott Bain and added a second after half-time when he outjumped Kristoffer Ajer and nodded a Borna Barisic delivery into the net.
Morelos, who only ended his scoring hoodoo in the 1-1 draw with Celtic at Parkhead last month, made it 2-1 in the first-half when he rifled into the roof of the net. Jermain Defoe replaced him at the death and then added a delightful fourth.
Gerrard changed his formation and tactics and deployed Morelos and Roofe as a twin strikeforce with Ryan Kent just behind them. It was a quite a departure. But the new system worked brilliantly. All three of them were outstanding throughout.
Interim Celtic manager John Kennedy and his captain Brown both bemoaned the red carding of McGregor. But they had no cause to complain. He clearly fouled Kent and Glen Kamara in the space of three minutes. Referee Nick Walsh did well to play advantage after the later offence and then punish the midfielder after Roofe had opened the scoring.
The match official was given the nod to take charge of the famous fixture for the first time. He is sure to be handed a few more in future given how well he acquitted himself.
Celtic toiled at the back as well as up front. Bain was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers during the 90 minutes. He denied Roofe, Joe Aribo and Morelos. It was the first time that Rangers had beaten the Parkhead outfit by three clear goals since October 2007. But the margin of victory could have been even greater.
Brown, who was replaced by Ismaila Soro after an hour, bowed out of the Old Firm game with a whimper. He has been a huge presence in it during the past 14 years. It is not how he wanted to depart. Whoever is appointed manager in the summer has a huge task on his hands replacing him and building a squad capable or reclaiming the Premiership.
Rangers’ biggest problem now is holding onto their key men. Kent was sensational yesterday and is sure to be the subject of a few substantial bids this summer. Barisic, Goldson, Kamara, and Morelos could be targeted as well. Some prized assets will have to be sold to balance the books.
But that is for another day. The Ibrox club and their followers are entitled to wallow in the moment after all they have been through in the past decade and will do so with pleasure. They could well have more accomplishments to savour before the curtain comes down on the 2020/21 season.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here