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Simon McMahon is only using this as a starter.
Celtic Rangers is always an, eh, occasion. Hoping for a few red cards goals today to whet the appetite for the main event at 3 o’clock at Tannadice, the days proper derby between Europe chasing Dundee United and relegation chasing Dundee…
Barry Ferguson has been speaking to his old teammate Kris Boyd: “There’ll be no excuses in terms of, ‘There was a game on Thursday, I’m feeling a bit leggy’. I’ll talk to them. And if anybody has got any doubt in their mind they won’t be playing. I need people who are 100% focused. You’re never 100% fit going into a game but I need guys who are basically going to go to war.”
It’s a serious fitness test for Rangers, with 10 starters present from Thursday night. Nick Ames was there to take it in.
The teams
We have our XIs. Celtic are without their injured captain Callum McGregor and missing Auston Trusty at the back, too. In come Maik Nawrocki and Luke McCowan. Rangers have just one change from midweek: Ridvan Yilmaz replaces Jefté.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp, McCowan, Engels, Hatate, Jota, Kühn, Maeda
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Idah, Yang, Kenny, Murray, Ralston, Bonnar, Turley
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Ridvan, Sterling, Barron, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Dessers
Subs: Kelly, Pröpper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Igamane, Hagi, Rice, Danilo
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to our coverage of a highly significant Old Firm clash. Visiting supporters will be present, a resolution found over the question of ticket allocations. Around 2,400 Rangers fans will roar at Celtic Park this afternoon.
But this is no title clash. Celtic are way out in front, 16 points ahead of their rivals, Brendan Rodgers eyeing up another domestic treble. Rangers, though, still have the excitement of Europe, through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after Jack Butland’s heroism against Fenerbahce on Thursday evening. That adrenaline, presumably still pumping, will have to make up for the fatigue of playing through extra time.
And then there’s the Barry Ferguson element, the old captain turned manager, ready for the heat that’ll come his way on the touchline, 16 years on from his last runaround in this fixture. It’ll be fun. Kick-off’s at 12.30pm GMT.
