Rangers and Celtic will both be in action on Wednesday 9 September 2026 in Scottish Premiership fixtures that could reshape the title race. According to live coverage details, Rangers host St Mirren at 7:45pm at Ibrox, while Celtic travel to Perth to face St Johnstone at 8pm. The outcomes will set the tone for the first Old Firm derby of the season, scheduled for the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals at Ibrox on Sunday 13 September.
If Rangers secure their fourth successive victory, the Scottish Premiership table will retain its current shape. Derek McInnes' side have gathered momentum after a stuttering start to the campaign, while Celtic maintain an unblemished domestic record following their recovery from Champions League qualifying disappointment in Austria and a flurry of late transfer window signings.
Can Rangers overtake St Mirren?
Rangers currently trail third-placed St Mirren on goal difference following an impressive opening spell from the Paisley club. According to recent match records, Rangers defeated Motherwell 1-0 on 5 September 2026, while St Mirren fell to a 2-1 defeat against Celtic on the same day. St Mirren's earlier form included a 1-0 away victory over Kilmarnock on 2 September and a 3-3 draw with Motherwell on 30 August.
Craig McLeish has earned widespread recognition for introducing a more fluid tactical approach at St Mirren, earning him Premiership manager of the month for August.
I'm not surprised it's come together so quickly - I get that from the outside it might look like that. There's an internal belief about what we're doing and the work we can do on the pitch. It could have been even better and we were close to it being even better.
However, St Mirren's previous visit to Ibrox in the Premier Sports Cup ended in a heavy defeat. James Penrice marked an impressive Rangers debut that day by scoring one of five goals and providing an assist. The left-back has featured in every match since, alongside central defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Emmanuel Fernandez, with the settled backline providing stability for Rangers' recent improvement.
Rangers' recent form has been built on small but significant steps. Derek McInnes acknowledged the mounting pressure to deliver silverware while noting the positive atmosphere developing at the club.
I don't think that ever lifts until you've got a trophy in your hand. But I do think there's been a good feel about the place. What we have had in recent weeks is just small steps, encouragement, confidence levels.
The absence of striker Lawrence Shankland through injury represents a significant blow, arriving just as he had begun to find his rhythm in front of goal. Kevin Kelsy may therefore lack the opportunity to ease gradually into his new surroundings at the club.
In their previous two league encounters, Rangers have defeated St Mirren by a single goal, though the visitors had previously enjoyed an unbeaten run of four matches in this fixture. St Mirren will be without midfielder Paul Nsio, who cannot face his parent club, a factor that could prove decisive given Rangers' midfield dominance during their cup meeting last month.
Will Celtic's new signings make an impact?
Celtic secured a hard-fought victory in Paisley on the weekend but were far from their most fluent. Winger Yang Hyun-jun delivered the standout performance, capping an energetic display with the winning goal, but he is now unavailable due to South Korean commitments at the Asian Games.
His departure will necessitate tactical adjustments. Manager Martin O'Neill may hesitate to move Camilo Duran out to the wing following an impressive run of three goals and two assists in three games as centre-forward. On-loan Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka could instead make his first start, though only Mheuka and Oliver Sorensen have featured from the bench among the six players who arrived in the final 48 hours of the transfer window.
Sebastian Tounekti represents a more conservative option to replace Yang. Striker Kasper Hogh and left-back Kieran Tierney are also available after brief spells sidelined through injury, giving O'Neill multiple options to consider.
According to fixture scheduling details, Celtic's away match at St Johnstone on 9 September 2026 was rearranged by the SPFL, providing the club with a midweek league fixture ahead of their domestic campaign.
What challenge do St Johnstone pose?
St Johnstone will present a different type of challenge, with the Perth side hunting a third consecutive home victory at McDiarmid Park. The club's approach mirrors that of St Mirren in many respects, prioritising possession and building play through phases rather than relying on direct methods.
Manager Simo Valakari acknowledged the scale of the task ahead.
We need to do our football things so well, then at the same time, we need to earn our luck, because against Celtic, if you want to beat them, you need to be a little bit lucky in some moments.
St Johnstone possess attacking threats in Josh Fowler, who has scored three of his four goals at home, and Taylor Steven, whose crossing from the right impressed during their recent victory over Hibernian. Defenders Cheick Diabate and Zach Mitchell form a no-nonsense central partnership willing to engage in physical battles, though the club has yet to record a league clean sheet this season.
Martin O'Neill last managed in Perth 25 years ago, but the most recent upset came in April 2025 when St Johnstone defeated Celtic at home—one of the rare bright spots in a season that ultimately ended in relegation for the club.
O'Neill reflected on St Johnstone's approach and character.
They want to play football as well and they're committed. There's a vitality about them which is very encouraging. Not dissimilar in many aspects to what Craig McLeish is doing at St Mirren.
What happens next?
Both matches will take place on Wednesday 9 September 2026, with Rangers' fixture kicking off at 7:45pm and Celtic's at 8pm. The results will set the stage for the Old Firm quarter-final clash at Ibrox on Sunday 13 September 2026 at noon, marking the first competitive meeting between the Glasgow rivals this season.
