Rangers takeover to spark demolition job as 'radical' Americans leave nothing off the table – Keith Jackson

In the end it all felt rather anti-climatic.

Yes, they traded blows and there was no lack of huffing and puffing for 97 minutes or so but, ultimately, both sides were probably happy just to get it out of the way without suffering any more damage.

Celtic will go on from here to wrap up a domestic treble when they face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final on May 24. Rangers will head into the summer prepared for a transformative takeover and, once again, the hope of jam tomorrow.

And the thought of what is about to come on both sides of the city probably rendered yesterday’s Old Firm dust up as a game which required nothing much more than the avoidance of a bruising defeat.

Brendan Rodgers certainly seemed content enough on the final whistle as he led his players towards the Celtic fans in the away corner of Ibrox. Not quite a victory lap. But close enough. And there will be plenty of time for that in the next three weeks.

While the visiting manager was waving to Celtic’s supporters, Barry Ferguson watched on from the sidelines, not sure what the future holds for himself or his staff but probably quietly satisfied that he has put himself up against Rodgers twice now without suffering a derby day loss.

Of course, he will feel as if it could have been better too, especially at the break after Cyriel Dessers had opened the scoring in the dying seconds of the first half.

And another victory over the nearest and dearest might have helped convince incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell that there’s no urgent need to look elsewhere for a new manager over the coming weeks.

Then again, Thelwell will have seen enough by now to have a decent idea of what is required once Andrew Cavenagh and his American consortium get the keys to