PHILIPPE Clement claimed that Rangers had emerged from the third Old Firm game of the season as ‘moral winners’ despite being held to a 3-3 draw by Celtic at Ibrox today.

Clement’s side, who have a game in hand against Dundee at Dens Park to play on Wednesday night, squandered a chance to leapfrog Brendan Rodgers’ team into top spot in the cinch Premiership table.

However, the Belgian was impressed with how his side fought back after falling 2-0 and 3-2 down and is still upbeat about the Govan club’s chances of lifting the Scottish title come May even though they remain a point behind the defending champions.

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“I was not so happy about the beginning, clearly,” he said. “My Scottish assistant (Alex Rae) has a word for that, that I better not use.

“It is the worst start you can have in an Old Firm game, to go behind after one minute. Also, in the way we went behind. That is a big blow in that moment for the team, for the fans. Afterwards, we didn’t go down, but we were not good enough on the ball.

“It was also a special situation today with the wind, it was difficult to play really good combination play but we didn’t manage to do enough. That is frustrating to go 2-0 into half-time.

The National: “Then second half we showed our real face. We showed the real things that I want to see, this never stopping team that has a lot of resilience, a lot of hunger and desire to change the result. To do the right thing, to create chances and not give away chances.

“We clearly deserve at least a point today with what we have shown. I think at the end we are moral winners of this afternoon because a few months ago, for sure not this team could have reacted after 2-0 in an Old Firm.

“I don’t know if many teams in the past could have done it. It is a hard thing in a very important game to go 2-0 behind to also feel the disappointment of your fans when you go into the dressing room to turn that around. Because of that I am really proud of my boys.”

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Asked where he felt the result left Rangers in the Scottish title race, Clement said: "I don't have any control of that, we are going to go game by game."

Clement was unhappy that Celtic were awarded a penalty for a Connor Goldson handball in the first-half – but he felt that Rangers deserved to be given a spot kick for an Alistair Johnston foul on Fabio Silva.

“I think if somebody kicks your knee then it’s a penalty,” he said. “If that’s not a penalty anymore, then I don’t know what is.

“I think the referee and the VAR did a really good job today although I was disappointed at not getting the (Cyriel Dessers) goal for a small foul in our half.  

“With that and then this penalty I think we had much more reason to be unhappy about things, but we are not because the referee and the VAR did a good job today and if that’s the case we need to say it.”

Clement added: "But I think every manager in the world, every player in the world wants this (handball) rule to be changed.

"I know with the rule it is a penalty now, but if a ball is brought in at that speed in front of goal and it is touched by the head and is deflected and you jump up at that moment and you want to take your arm away but it touches your arm, with the rules now it is a penalty.

"So nothing to say about the decision of the referee or the VAR but everyone who is playing football says too many penalties are given in that way."

The National: Rangers captain James Tavernier allowed Celtic winger Daizen Maeda to score after just  seconds – but Clement was impressed at how the right back recovered from his mistake and sparked a second-half comeback with a well-taken penalty. 

“He showed the personality to take the penalty and to take the penalty in that way, with really big conviction, desire to score the goal and to put the perfect penalty away. 

“It’s not easy and a lot of players break after making a fault like that at the beginning of the game. They go down the way. But he has the capacity to switch on again and to be even more hungry.” 

READ MORE: Silva accused of simulation as Rodgers hails Celtic position

There are concerns that Rangers’ game in hand against Dundee in Tayside on Wednesday night might not go ahead as scheduled because of the state of the Dens Park pitch – or might need to be moved to a different venue.

Asked if he was worried about the impact which the heavy rain that has been forecast for the coming days might have on the playing surface, he said: "No, because it is not my task, I try to control the controllables. I put all my energy, my attention every second, into that.

"I don't control the weather forecast, I am not a groundsman. my wife knows I am really bad in that. I have other qualities and I will focus on that.

"They are also not our responsibility, they are the responsibilities of Dundee and of the league also, to see that the product of football that the broadcaster pay a lot of money for, is played in a normal way."