Docherty predicts derby drama

FORMER Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty predicts Saturday’s unique behindcloseddoor Old Firm battle might just have the perfect conditions to see a rare game of football break out.

Meetings between Glasgow’s big two are usually not for the faint- hearted, with meaty challenges roared on as loudly as goals amid the frenzy of a powder- keg atmosphere.

But it will be a significantly different occasion tomorrow as Steven Gerrard takes his Light Blues across the city to face Neil Lennon’s champions for the first time this season at Celtic Park.

Covid- 19 restrictions mean the clash will be played in front of an empty stadium and while Celtic may be hunting down 10- in- a- row, Docherty reckons football will be the real winner this weekend as he forecasts an end- to- end classic encounter.

Docherty – who joined Hull earlier this summer – told the PA news agency: “It will be so weird for the players walking out of the tunnel to be met with silence. Usually as you run out you get hit by this wall of colour and noise.

“It’s going to be a totally different derby experience, even if a lot of the guys will be now getting used to playing without fans.

“But I think it could end up being a really high- scoring affair – it could end up looking like a basketball game.

“When Rangers go to Celtic Park, their fans are normally outnumbered eight to one but I don’t think you’ll see one team being forced to sit back while the other dominates because Celtic are at home.”