Monday 26 September 2016 15:12, UK
Celtic will hold sway over Glasgow rivals Rangers for the 'next couple of seasons', according to Sky Sports pundit Alan McInally.
The Hoops stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to two points - with a game in hand - following their 5-1 derby victory at Celtic Park last Saturday.
At one time during the game the home side boasted a possession statistic of 92 per cent to the visitors' eight and they made their superiority tell in a one-sided display which saw Moussa Dembele grab Celtic's first league hat-trick in a derby match since Stevie Chalmers 50 years ago.
Fellow new recruit Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong completed the rout over Mark Warburton's side for whom former Preston striker Joe Garner grabbed a consolation on the stroke of half-time.
Speaking to Sky Sports Now McInally, who played for the champions between 1984 and 1987, said: "The result shows the gulf between the two teams.
"Rangers have not been at the top table for some time and Mark Warburton has done really well in trying to bring in more players.
"But the gulf is still big between Rangers and Celtic and it will probably remain like that for another couple of years.
"To be fair to Brendan Rodgers, he has strengthened the Celtic squad to the point they look sharper and quicker this season. He has brought a lot more pace into the team and that was too much for Rangers to handle. It's as simple as that.
"They were simply too good for them in a number of areas on the pitch and I think the buying power Celtic now have means they are always going to keep ahead of Rangers at the moment.
"But Rangers are a big football team, a big club. I think they have been run a little better and they will be back. But you have to say it really was a very one-sided football match."
Asked if it is unfair to expect too much of Rangers at this stage, fellow Sky Sports Now guest Dean Saunders said: "Yes, they are playing catch-up.
"They've been down the leagues, still don't have the squad of Celtic and they may need a couple of years. At the moment Celtic are ahead."
