IT WAS my old Daily Record chum Hugh Taylor who once said: “Only a fool would predict the outcome of an Old Firm game.”
And then this doyen among sportswriters added: “I’m going for a score draw.”
I am feeling recklessly adventurous this bright and blue-skyed Sunday morning as autumn reminds us she is just around the corner and I believe Celtic WILL win at Ibrox this afternoon.
In fact, I reckon the champions will have a few goals to spare by the time the traditional skirmish comes to a halt around 2pm.
Yes, I am aware our attack was of the powderpuff variety in three and a half hours of football in the deeply distressing and embarrassing Champions League exit to the distinctly average Kairat Almaty.
HIGH HOPES…Brendan Rodgers may be looking heavenwards for Divine assistance.
Good grief even three of our players couldn’t score from the penalty spot to emphasise the toothlessness of a side seemingly hell bent on expulsion from Europe’s most prestigious competition.
The only thing the team managed to hit with any degree of accuracy was its foot.
A day after our kamikaze performance in Kazakhstan, I watched Russell Martin age about fifty years in 45 minutes in Belgium.
After his Ibrox team had admired the finishing skills of Club Brugge as the Belgians thundered into a 3-0 first-half advantage in Govan the previous week, Martin winced as his shredded rearguard conceded five in the opening period in Belgium while two other attempts smacked off the crossbar.
If that half had gone on another 10 minutes, I have absolutely no doubt the hosts would have added a couple more. The visitors were there for the taking.
REO BRAVO? Will the real Reo Hatate stand up at Ibrox today?
The edge was off the hosts’ play when the second-half got underway and, early in that period, the Brugge head coach did Martin a massive favour by withdrawing his two best forwards.
Forget the fact the Govan club had gone down to 10 men early in a lopsided confrontation. There was no leadership on display in the Jan Breydel Stadium; no-one was willing to take responsibility.
The heads went down and the only reason even more pain was not inflicted was because the hosts took their foot off the gas. I heard a couple of gibbering pundits attempting to inform us Rangers had rallied and had been better organised after the interval.
Utter piffle and drivel. The one and only reason they were not annihilated was because Brugge, with an important league game at Gent later this afternoon, decided to keep their powder dry.
The first 15 minutes or so will be vital this afternoon. Celtic have to be aggressive and on the front foot. If they play with positivity, they will be rewarded.
It would also help if Reo Hatate is reminded a game of football lasts for 90 minutes – or 105 in his case on Tuesday night – and it’s not enough to flit in and out when it suits him.
The astute midfielder is blessed with the ability to sprinkle stardust on occasions, but these cherished moments have been few and far between in recent times.
DOWN AND OUT…Reo Hatate reflects on his dreadful miss in Kazakhstan.
And his compatriot Daizen Maeda might try putting his boots on the correct feet. How else can you explain the alarming miss with just the keeper to beat and the clock ticking down? The wayward effort probably ended up somewhere near the Chinese border.
The Kairat keeper also failed miserably in his attempt to get out of the way of the Japanese speedster’s reckless penalty-kick.
What on earth has happened to the multiple Player of the Year winner who notched 22 goals during a prolific campaign, but has collected only ONE – in the 4-1 Premier Sports League Cup win over Falkirk – in his last ELEVEN competitive outings?
You don’t think someone has replaced our hero with a Daizen doppelgänger, do you? It might help explain the alarming drop in his strike rate.
So, as old Hughie said in a much-loved bygone era, only a fool would predict the outcome of an Old Firm game. (Or whichever guise you wish to term the Glasgow derby these days.)
I’ve seen forecasts of these duels go spectacularly askew. I’ve come out of Parkhead, Ibrox and Hampden on occasions in total bewilderment at the outcome of these affrays.
GOVAN GLEE…Bobby Lennox turns away in joy after scoring one of his hat-trick in Celtic’s 4-0 Glasgow Cup win at Ibrox in 1966. Jimmy Johnstone is about to add his congratulations.
I watched Rangers beat Jock Stein’s Celtic 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Final replay at the national stadium in 1966. The first match had been a goalless draw and I swear the goal from right-back Kai Johansen, who scored as often as appearances of Haley’s Comet, was his team’s only shot on target over the two encounters.
Three months later, the adversaries met in a Glasgow Cup-tie at Ibrox and Celtic blew them away 4-0 with wee Bobby Lennox cramming a hat-trick behind the overworked Billy Ritchie in the opposition’s goal.
Some of the results have been inexplicable, that’s for sure.
However, having said that, I just can’t see Brendan Rodgers’ side, even with a forward line that is toiling to spark, failing to get the job done in enemy territory this time around. To me, this is an open goal.
If Celtic do not win on this occasion or, dare I say it, even contrive to lose the game, questions will have to be asked. And answered.
ALEX GORDON
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Rangers v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champions CQN.
