How Derek McInnes pulled 'rabbit out of the hat' for Rangers - it leaves one big loser
Derek McInnes deserves all the credit as Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 in the Premier Sports Cup on Sunday.
The Scottish manager must have left Martin O'Neill dumfounded on the Ibrox touchline as the Gers steamrolled past the Hoops on 13 September to book their place in the semi-final.
It was for afternoons like these that Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises chose the ex-Hearts boss to replace Danny Rohl and he has repaid that faith.
McInnes came out on top at Ibrox after making some bold decisions with his starting lineup against Celtic.
While some thought the Govan side wouldn't have coped with Celtic's midfield if they played a front two, the Scottish manager had an answer.
James Penrice was arguably the most important piece of the puzzle for the ex-Hearts boss as he completely outmanoeuvred O'Neill.
What Rangers tactics looked like vs Celtic
While the man-to-man marking and Penrice's role as an inverted full-back were evident for everyone to see, the effects were a bit complicated to comprehend.
The left-back's positioning in the Old Firm derby ensured the Gers had a midfield advantage.
McInnes then opted to have Dujon Sterling play a more conservative role at right-back and tuck in alongside Emmanuel Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya.
And with Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi determined to close down Celtic's defence, it became a recipe for success as the Govan side dominated in almost every department.
Writing in the Daily Record on 14 September, journalist Keith Jackson said: "McInnes, on the other hand, pulled a rabbit out of the tactical hat by deploying James Penrice as an extra man in midfield and shaping Rangers up with a back three, adopting a man-for-man approach to dealing with Celtic's attack.
"As a result of this switch it felt as if Rangers had an extra man in every area of the pitch, with Ryan Naderi and Kevin Kelsy throwing their combined weight around and causing Celtic's defence huge problems."
Why Tuur Rommens is biggest loser after Rangers win vs Celtic
Tuur Rommens was flying high at the end of last season, instantly becoming a Rangers hero after signing in the winter transfer window.
Cut to September, and it would be surprising to see McInnes drop Penrice for the Belgian defender when he returns to full fitness.
Injuries have undoubtedly taken a toll on Rommens' status at the Gers and he will surely have to do something special to get back into the starting lineup.
With the Scottish manager slowly figuring out his best tactical setup in the absence of the former Westerlo star, it's safe to say his influence in the team has deteriorated.