CELTIC 0 RANGERS 0
Yesterday, the Celtic supporters didn’t even know who they were.
That walk to the front door is usually filled with a bit of poison.
A torrent of abuse from fans who have got to the ground early – just to have a pop at the opposition players on Old Firm day. Yesterday it was anything but. On a bitterly cold morning, Graeme Murty and his squad strolled off their Parks of Hamilton as if they were going in for Celtic Park hospitality.
And the reason for such apathy was that as Rangers suits stepped off the vehicle one by one, Hoops fans were trying to work out who they were.
They were looking for a hate figure and had all the insults ready.
But when it’s David Bates, Daniel Candeias and Eduardo Herrera coming off, no wonder it’s a struggle to get worked up about them.
The only Rangers player to get stick was Kenny Miller who wasn’t even playing. And they know all about him.
So that’s where we were before yesterday’s fixture.
Has there ever been a derby with so little hype and fervour? And it’s all because of a so-called yawning chasm between the sides.
Somehow Murty had to overcome that. If he ever comes off the Rangers bus at Parkhead getting slaughtered with his players, you can bet his job that day will be easier than it was yesterday.
One experienced hack in the Press box before kick-off claimed it was the worst Rangers team he could remember turning up in Glasgow’s east end.
That’s highly debatable. But the fact it was even up for discussion was an indication of Gers’ task.
But to be fair, just like on Murty’s last visit here in March, they performed superbly.
Adopting a simi lar tactic of pressing Celtic’s backline high, they forced them into some early errors and threatened when Alfredo Morelos got a shot off