Leon Balogun says Rangers have silenced their critics following Sunday’s 1-0 home win against Celtic.

The Gers have struggled to replicate last season’s form in the opening month of the new campaign.

Despite missing a number of their key stars due to Covid-19, the defending champions still managed to beat the visitors 1-0 courtesy of Filip Helander’s second half header.

Balogun told RangersTV: “It’s amazing. If you come after us… there are a lot of people running their mouth when something negative happens around our club.

“It’s not even our fault because we all live in this pandemic. Whenever something like this happens, we have people coming after us.

“But we have shown today what awaits you if you do that. That’s the big family.

“It’s the first time I’ve met the fans in an Old Firm. It has been magnificent the way they have been pushing us.

“You can only say thank you on behalf of the team. They just kept us pushing.

“We had a tough week behind us, some setbacks within the group, but everybody just stuck together.

“People have been stepping up from the reserves, from everywhere. We have shown what that is about. It’s been amazing.

“You have to [leave everything out there] in every game if you represent that club.

“Especially in that game. It means so much. You see after the final whistle what it means to everyone – to us, to club members, staff, supporters.

“It makes it that much sweeter. It’s an amazing feeling.”