There is no question that the gravity of Sunday’s Old Firm league clash is the true test for this Rangers team. We were all obviously hugely delighted after beating Celtic at Ibrox last Sunday in this season’s maiden Old Firm. However, the discrepancy is always with the League Cup. Any cup competition is a bit different to the league, as St Mirren showed at the same venue twice over.
Old Firm league clash is the real test
In the League Cup, Rangers absolutely destroyed the Buddies. In the league, we struggled hugely and simply did not look up to it at all. We scraped through, barely. Consequently, the same logic applies to Celtic. The League Cup, as a one off cup match, can throw up unpredictable outcomes. Teams often play differently or get different results from what they might otherwise achieve.
Hence, the true test is travelling across the east of the city to face Celtic in their own den. Not only will it be Derek McInnes’ first away Old Firm match of the season, but there will be no away fans either, as we know due to the lockout. We cannot overstate how much that may have influenced Rangers’ outstanding performance last Sunday.
Old Firm league clash changes the atmosphere
With no visiting fans at Ibrox, Celtic looked insipid, flat and disjointed. While Derek McInnes definitely achieved a tactical masterclass, there was something utterly missing from the visitors, and we don’t just mean their fans. This weekend, the shoe will be on the other foot.
Derek McInnes will travel with his team to the east end of Glasgow with no travelling fans in accompaniment. He must figure out how to alter the game to combat the league version of Celtic. The league version has been free scoring while conceding very few. They have five wins from five domestically in the league and have scored a boatload of goals.
Celtic will offer Rangers a different challenge
They have also done this without new signing Kasper Høgh. Meanwhile, they have instead been doing it with the other addition, Duran. Consequently, Celtic have the tools to hurt Rangers. We know they will be a different prospect in the east. On their own patch, this will be a much more difficult challenge.
This basically means McInnes will have to get the tactics and selection right. Ibrox Noise is not expecting the ultimately easy ride we got at Ibrox to replicate itself in this one. Put simply, Celtic will have 60,000 baying fans. If Derek McInnes can overcome that and get at least a point, there really is a corner being turned here. We would love the win, but at least a point would represent a significant result.
Old Firm league clash means more this time
This is a huge one, the biggest one yet. It means more than the League Cup does. Ibrox Noise discussed among our staff recently which Old Firm we would pick to win if we could only have one victory. Before either match had even started, the response was universal. It was the victory in the league.
Obviously, the League Cup win was nice and we want to win that tournament, but we need to win the league. So, we will see how Sunday goes. It is the biggest litmus test Derek McInnes could have got. Now we will see if he can pass it.