Derek McInnes has 'saved his job' after 'huge' win vs Celtic

Derek McInnes has been told his results against Celtic as Rangers manager will be crucial to keeping his job at Ibrox.

Rangers led 1-0 at half-time and went on to stamp their authority on the game, with two goals from Dan Neil and Kevin Kelsy's first for the club handing them a 3-0 win.

Martin O'Neill's side will have their shot at revenge at Parkhead in just one week's time on 20 September, but a huge win at Ibrox is set to do wonders for McInnes' tenure.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that McInnes' success will be judged based on if he can get results against Celtic after previous managers have failed.

Danny Rohl, for example, won just one of his five games against Celtic, with Steven Gerrard the last Ibrox boss to have maintained a winning record against their bitter rivals.

McInnes himself has spoken about the importance of Rangers being dominant in Scottish football, both in terms of winning silverware and beating their rivals.

Could Derek McInnes be under pressure at Rangers?

Football Insider revealed on 6 September that McInnes had been given four "huge games" to turn around what was a poor start to his tenure as Rangers manager.

Since then, the boss has overseen victories against Motherwell and St Mirren, with the two Old Firm clashes first at Ibrox and then at Parkhead seen as crucial.

Ahead of McInnes' first Old Firm derby as manager, having never lost to the Hoops as a player, the pressure was on for him to deliver a result and he did just that.

"Derek McInnes talks a good game, he always says the right thing," Brown told Football Insider.

"Sometimes that can get you out of prison as a manager, because it can ease frustrations and get the fans on your side, especially when you start getting results as well.

"But sometimes, talking isn't quite enough, and if results start going against you then the fans will see through the things you're saying.

"I've seen it happen with a lot of managers before. It's especially important at Rangers to buy into the club, the beliefs and everything that club represents in Scotland.

"McInnes has done that, he knows what it means, but he will also know how important it is for the fans to get results against Celtic.

"Rangers have been on the wrong end of these games all too often in the last few years, but McInnes knows he can't afford that.

"It's all good beating teams like St Mirren and Falkirk, but Celtic is the one that really matters and the one that most Rangers managers are measured against.

"If he can get positive results against Celtic, those disappointments in Europe can be forgotten about and a lot of the pressure can be releived.

"They're really important games, and McInnes has to make sure his side comes out on top when other managers have struggled to live up to the fan's expectations.

"If you're under pressure as a Rangers manager, a win against Celtic can save your job, and it can go the other way too. So getting the victory here is huge for McInnes."

How important is the Celtic clash to McInnes' future?

Pressure on McInnes' position at Rangers has been high in the early stages of his tenure, and despite a recent turnaround in results, questions have still been asked of the boss.

Having been knocked out of all European competitions, domestic fixtures have become more important than ever, with the clashes against Celtic of particular importance.

Former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that McInnes would've been under "huge pressure" if Rangers lost to Celtic at home in their Premier Sports Cup clash.

After a tough start to life at Ibrox, there were fears that a defeat at home against their biggest rivals could see large sections of the crowd turn against the manager.

However, after taking the victory from an emphatic 3-0 win, McInnes will rest easily ahead of the sides' next meeting at Parkhead next weekend.