Why Derek McInnes will be confused about Rangers tactics vs Celtic - Two aspects change the game

Derek McInnes has a massive headache as Rangers face Celtic on Sunday.

The Scottish manager got the better of Martin O'Neill in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, and the Gers now travel to Parkhead just a week later, on 20 September, in the William Hill Premiership.

At Ibrox, the Northern Irish head coach was left dumbfounded, with no answers for the Light Blues' tactics.

McInnes will surely expect changes from Celtic for the second Old Firm derby and may want to make a few tweaks of his own.

Going into the game, the Govan side are on a five-game winning run.

As for the Hoops, they've lost their last two games, with their Glaswegian neighbours outplaying them and Ferencvaros coming to G40 and winning 3-1 in the Europa League.

Why Rangers have reason to maintain tactics vs Celtic

McInnes deployed man-to-man marking against Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season, and the opposition players couldn't cope.

James Penrice played as an inverted left-back and the Gers dominated all areas of the pitch.

While the tactics at Ibrox worked a treat, the Scottish manager will acknowledge that playing in front of the home crowd helped the Light Blues maintain pressure on the Hoops.

It will be an entirely different prospect for the Govan side at Parkhead, with no away fans allowed in the stadium.

Yet, after seeing Ferencvaros get at the Hoops' backline in Glasgow, McInnes may be encouraged not to change his tactics for the trip to G40.

Why Derek McInnes has now been given second thoughts vs Celtic

While McInnes may have thought about playing the same way against Celtic a week after the dominant home victory, those plans could have suffered a major blow.

Ryan Naderi is an injury doubt for Rangers and the Scottish manager could be without three of his strikers for the trip to Parkhead.

Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti are already long-term absences for the Gers.

Naderi was instrumental in pressing Celtic from up front and setting the standard at Ibrox.

Without the Germany-born attacker, McInnes will undoubtedly wonder whether someone like Minsu Kim could replicate that intensity through the central area.

It will be interesting to see if the Scottish manager decides to sit back at Celtic Park and try to hurt the hosts on the counter instead.