Old Firm game has even more spice

ONLY THE scale of Celtic’s Ibrox party is to be determined. One of the most intriguing Old Firm matches in years has a fascinating backdrop. Rangers’ financial mess and slide into administration has triggered wild celebrations among supporters of their oldest foes.

Celtic’s followers will cross the city tomorrow with schadenfreude in mind, the atmosphere will be cranked up even further if Neil Lennon’s team confirm their status as champions at full-time.

For that to happen, Motherwell must fail to defeat Kilmarnock today and Celtic have to secure three derby points. Given Rangers’ troubles, it is hardly an unlikely prospect, and one which will cause the local police an uneasy night’s sleep tonight.

All manner of steps are routinely taken to avoid any circumstance where either half of the Old Firm can claim the league at a derby match. This season, mainly because of the 10-point deduction handed to Rangers, circumstances have defied the most careful planning.

Neil Lennon, Celtic’s manager, is adamant that comparisons with 1999 are invalid. Then, the securing of the title by Rangers at Celtic Park was overshadowed by infamously wild off-field scenes including a coin attack on the referee Hugh Dallas.

“I can’t dictate the atmosphere,” said Lennon. “I won’t know what it’s like until we are there. I am trying to play it down as much as possible. I don’t think you guys [the media] have helped by bringing up the 1999 game and using headlines like ‘mental’ and ‘war’ and all that rubbish. That does not prepare both sets of supporters for Sunday in the right frame of mind.”

Winning the league at Ibrox, for the first time since 1967, represents a dream circumstance for Celtic’s following. Not so the manager. “It’s not on my radar. If Motherwell win then we can’t win the title. We’re just going to go and win the game,” Lennon said.

A key question, that said, is to what extent Lennon and his team will celebrate if the Scottish Premier League trophy is officially taken back from Rangers’ grasp.

“We had a chat with the head of the police organisation about the game on Sunday but not with regards post-match celebrations,” Celtic’s manager added. “We won’t be there to gloat. We will be respectful of everyone at the stadium.”

Guardian Service