Alex McLeish faces up to his last Old Firm game at Ibrox as Rangers manager and will have to pick his team up after the last two games against Hibs and Aberdeen and of course from the news that he will be standing down at the end of the season.
The players will know that they will have to improve their performances as no doubt the manager in waiting will be keeping an eye on them and if they don’t perform they could find themselves out of the door.
Alex McLeish is expected to axe a few players after the recent slump in form, that could mean the likes of Rodriguez, Bernard and Hemdani being recalled to the team.
This could be a game with plenty of goals as both teams are poor at the back at the moment. Celtic haven’t kept a clean sheet since November, remember the 4-4 game at Ibrox in the 80’s? That could be a possible result going with the form of the defenders in both sides.
This is the fourth meeting between the sides this season, the first one was at Ibrox in the league and ended 3-1 to Rangers, the following two were both at Parkhead in November and Rangers lost them both (2-0 and 3-0), the first of those was in the CIS Insurance League Cup and the second was in the SPL.
It would be nice to see Alex McLeish win his last Old Firm game at Ibrox with a victory, the man deserves it for everything he has done at the club.
The game itself will mean pretty little in terms of the league, Rangers are certainly out of it and Celtic are well ahead of nearest challengers Hearts but it’s always good to win it for Monday morning bragging rights at work.
So c’mon Rangers, give me something to be cheery about on the way to work on Monday morning.
Rangers Team News:
Soti Kyrgiakos has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up against Aberdeen in midweek but Julien Rodriguez and Oliver Bernard are struggling with fitness.
Player to watch: Dado Prso
The Croatian should be back in the starting line up for this one and he has been badly missed.
Celtic Team News:
Roy Keane and Neil Lennon will start together in midfield for the first time and Shunsuke Nakamura will drop out.
John Hartson will also be back in the starting line up.
Player to watch: Roy Keane
How will he handle his Old Firm debut?
Match Facts & Stats
Rangers record v Celtic @ Ibrox
Played 150
Won 75
Drawn 43
Lost 32
Goals For 251
Against 155
Rangers higest score
5-0 (1893/94)
Previous encounters this season
Rangers 3 Celtic 1, SPL
Celtic 2 Rangers 0, CIS League Cup
Celtic 3 Rangers, 0, SPL
Other facts
*Rangers have not lost a league game at Ibrox in the last 9 games.
*Celtic have only kept 2 clean sheets in the last 14 games.
Ref Watch:
Mike McCurry.
Match Prediction:
2-1 to the good guys.
Next Fixtures:
v Hibs (SPL), Sat 18th Feb.