A GOOD day for Rangers does not mean that all of a sudden they have become a good team.

A point from the Old Firm match is certainly something to build on in a season when there hasn’t been a huge amount to cheer.

But we haven’t learned anything new about the players. Not really. Rangers emerged with a draw and some pride, but with still plenty to work on. I am sure the supporters realise that this is hardly the dawn of a new era.

Sunday was always going to be the more important game for those in blue and I have to admit I felt that Celtic were going to win by a few goals. Indeed, anyone of a sane mind would have said that.

But Rangers turned up with a well thought-out plan to the great credit of Graeme Murty, who worked out his team would not out-football or out-pass Celtic. He showed up Mark Warburton who never changed and it cost him. For him it was Plan A at all costs.

It’s why we love football. The unpredictable makes this game.

However, while it was a positive result, this is a one-off performance in fixture which can be downright weird. Is this a new beginning for this Rangers team? I’m not so sure. Nobody should be fooled into thinking the problems have been resolved.

Celtic produced their worst performance for some time. Rangers found their beat form. It was still a draw. That proves how big the gap is.

To be fair, this was a different side to the one which lost in Inverness and were thrashed by Hearts.

We will see if they can raise themselves against Hamilton on Saturday because that’s been the problem all season.

Celtic remain miles ahead. They could win the title this weekend and then rest players ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final which is what Rangers have to hang their hat on.

And Pedro Caixinha will know this.

Second place is gone. Aberdeen are too far away and have consistency. Can Rangers win the semi-final? Yes, but they will need to play a lot better than Sunday because Celtic won’t be as poor again.

The Rangers players should take heart from getting a draw at Parkhead, which I think they deserved, but they must show that they can lift themselves against every team.

That is the first task for Caixinha.

I have seen better derbies in terms of quality. Several good players under-performed.

Scott Sinclair had his poorest game in a Celtic jersey. In fact, it was the first time he hadn’t been good.

I work a lot in Germany football and complacency has affected even Bayern Munich at times. Teams at the top, and Celtic are miles ahead of the rest, can have off days because they are so comfortable.

You can’t read what goes on inside the heads of footballers, but maybe some Celtic players felt it was going to be a far easier match.

So Caixinha has come in and Murty makes way. I have to say that the interim manager comes out of the last few weeks with his head held high and a reputation enhanced.

Having met him a few times since he was pushed into the job, which he didn’t ask for or want, Graeme has really impressed me. He is a good guy, a real football man and under difficult circumstances managed to get more out of his players than Warburton.

His work will have been noticed and I’m sure he will get a job in football soon enough.

Caixinha would have been encouraged by what he saw. However, how he catches Celtic, or at least closes the chasm, is something I can’t answer.