Rangers promoted: Old Firm rivalry reignited as Andy Halliday urges team-mates to challenge Celtic

Rangers won the Ladbrokes Championship and promotion to the Premiership with a 1-0 win over Dumbarton at Ibrox on Tuesday night

Andy Halliday joins Rangers supporters after securing promotion (Getty)

Andy Halliday threw down the gauntlet to his title-winning Rangers team-mates and urged them to challenge Celtic next season.

The Gers midfielder, a boyhood fan, helped the Light Blues win the Ladbrokes Championship and promotion to the Premiership with a 1-0 win over Dumbarton at Ibrox.

A stodgy performance from Mark Warburton's side needed a second-half goal from right-back James Tavernier to render Rangers uncatchable on 79 points with four games remaining.

In the post-match celebrations Halliday took a megaphone off one of the fans in the ultras-style section of the ground and started a song and afterwards he targeted a challenge to their traditional rivals.

The former Bradford City player said: "We've got to be challenging for the title; it's as simple as that.

"And that's not me being arrogant or disrespectful to Celtic at all, they are four in a row and going for another title, but you can't be at a club like this and be happy with second."

Rangers supporters celebrate promotion (Getty)

Asked what the fans had said when he went in among them, Halliday, who joined the Govan club last summer, replied: "Give us a song. Obviously I had to be careful which one I picked but I managed to grab the microphone and chanted away. I wasn't in for too long because my throat's not been great the last few days.

"It is an incredible achievement. Obviously it was our main goal since the start of the season.

"We feel we have been top of the season since day one of pre-season and have only been going one way and that is forward.

"Now it's full steam ahead to the end of the season because we still have a lot of big games and then in to the Premiership, back where we belong.

"I think we are getting better and better."

Rangers players celebrate promotion (Getty)

Tavernier told the club's official website that it was "an unbelievable feeling" to score the winner and how he enjoyed the celebrations.

He said: "We pressed a lot and tried to create chances, but they defended really well and the keeper pulled off some great saves, so I don't think the scoreline tells the story of the game.

"The fans have been great all season, both at home and away. It was a great feeling to walk around the pitch and be able to celebrate with them.

"There were probably more too who couldn't come to the game as it was sold out, and it was just a fantastic moment with all the boys to walk round the pitch."

PA