IT was an Old Firm in name and in sight. The sound was familiar, too, and in the end so was the outcome as Rangers savoured derby victory.

After a season where these matches carried all their significance but lost their lustre, this was a case of going back to the future. It will only be a taste of what is to come this term.

This fixture is as renowned and respected for its atmosphere as it is the football that is played. For the first time since December 2019, the unique selling point was back.

In terms of noise and colour, there is no doubt that the decision to decimate the away allocations a couple of seasons back has had a detrimental impact. The Old Firm is still special, but it has lost something off the park.

That, of course, was the case even more so last season. Playing these matches behind closed doors was a necessity, but it just didn’t sit or feel right and there was something missing from the four Premiership encounters and the Scottish Cup clash here.

Not this time, though. After a campaign like no other, this was further proof that normality has returned to society and the game as Ibrox played host to the first derby of the term.

The absence of any Celtic support made it another unusual encounter. As the chorus of boos greeted Ange Postegoclou’s side during the warm-up, there was no green and white slither in the corner offering a forlorn backing.

The deposed champions were now challengers. Celtic were not overawed at the fact that they were outnumbered but they were ultimately defeated once again.

Rangers’ struggles in the opening weeks of the season have allowed their detractors to once again question their mentality and the issue of whether Steven Gerrard’s side can perform in front of a crowd has come to fore. The fact that the Premiership trophy was glistening as this match was played was the ultimate riposte from Rangers and this stirring win will quieten their critics.

If Gerrard’s players couldn’t be inspired by the atmosphere and the opportunity, then they are in the wrong place. As the second tifo display from the Union Bears read, Rangers is a way of life and those on the park owed those in the stands a result and a performance.

A chorus of ‘Glasgow Rangers champions’ drowned out the first whistle and was the backdrop for the first exchanges as a new look Celtic and depleted Rangers got their initial look at each other this term.

There were only sighs of relief when Odsonne Eduoard fluffed his lines from close range, only gasps of so near yet so far as Ryan Kent struck Joe Hart’s post with a curled effort.

As the Union Bears provided a constant base level of decibels, Ibrox rode the rollercoaster of the action and the roars and groans would come in sporadic bursts.

It was somewhat surreal to have no opposing noise from the away end, but it was still a captivating spectacle to watch unfold.

Somehow, the hour was reached and neither defence was breached. When Celtic were, Ibrox erupted in scenes that haven’t been seen for far too long.

Rangers fans were denied their chance to celebrate during their 55 campaign and those days missed out on will never be recovered. As Filip Helander headed home the opener, all those emotions were unleashed in a visceral outpouring.

Not for the first time, Celtic were unwanted guests at a Rangers party. Not for the first time, it was those in red, white and blue who would celebrate the loudest and the longest.

It would finish like it started as Rangers reminded Celtic of their superiority with a chorus of ‘champions again’. Ibrox would live it up once again.