Bitter Derek McInnes Twists Dundee’s Point Into Celtic’s Title-Race Gift

Celtic have a title-race opening after Rangers failed to beat Dundee at Dens Park. Derek McInnes’s reaction made the draw even more uncomfortable for Rangers supporters: he admitted his side had fallen short, but still framed Dundee’s equaliser as an opportunity his own team had handed them.

Rangers had already fallen short

McInnes said Rangers had “gifted them an opportunity” after Dan Neil’s mistake let Callum Jones through to make it 2-2. Neil’s error was costly, but it was not the whole story of the match.

The Rangers manager also admitted his side had not used their wide players enough in the first half and had not played well enough for long enough. He said Dundee were “good value for their lead”. Those are significant concessions from a manager whose team arrived chasing an eighth straight win.

Dundee were organised, competitive and dangerous. They took their chance to go ahead, then kept fighting after Rangers struck twice to turn the game around.

Dundee still had to take their chance

Jones’s equaliser came from a major Rangers mistake, but Dundee still had to punish it. They did. That is the part McInnes’s “gifted” explanation risks pushing into the background.

The Scottish Sun’s report of McInnes’s comments includes his admission that Dundee deserved their lead and Rangers had not maintained their standard. Yet his emphasis landed on what Rangers gave away, as if Dundee’s point came down to one mistake.

McInnes is entitled to be angry with Neil’s error. But the draw was not simply a point thrown away by the Rangers captain. Dundee had already troubled Rangers, taken the lead and earned the chance to get back into the game.

Celtic have an opening

Rangers missed the chance to move top before Celtic face Hearts. Celtic may yet turn that opening into an advantage, but McInnes has already made the draw sound like an injustice to his side.

His own comments tell a different story: Rangers were not good enough for long enough, while Dundee deserved their lead and earned their point. The bitter edge comes from the way he still frames the result as something Rangers gave away.

Dundee did not need a gift to deserve a point. They needed to take their chances—and they did.