A win for Celtic on Saturday will be Brendan’s most satisfying yet as it will be against all the odds, says Simon Donnelly

CELTIC really will be entering the lion’s den in Saturday’s Old Firm showdown.

With Rangers having restricted their ticket allocation, the Hoops will have just 750 fans inside Ibrox, around 10% of their normal allocation.

Simon Donnelly knows what Celtic can expect.

After all, he made his Old Firm debut in April, 1994, on the day ALL Celtic fans were banned from the home of their greatest rivals, when Rangers chairman, Sir David Murray, reacted to vandalism at previous encounters.

With just about everything stacked against them, Donnelly reckons Brendan Rodgers and his players will get more satisfaction if they beat Steven Gerrard’s side than from any other previous Old Firm victory at Ibrox.

Donnelly told The Sunday Post: “It was more than 24 years ago, but I remember that day quite well.

“It was my first-ever Old Firm game, and to make my debut against Rangers, with none of our fans inside the stadium, was very strange.

“Before the game, manager Lou Macari told me I was to play up front on my own. Yes, a lone striker even back then!

“I was just 19 and up against the towering presence, and experience, of Richard Gough, the Rangers captain.

“But I felt I played quite well and didn’t let anything overawe me.

“During the warm-up, a plane flew over the stadium pulling a banner, which said: ‘Hail, Hail The Celts Are Here’.

“That gave us all a tremendous lift as we knew that, even though the supporters weren’t inside the stadium, they were with us in spirit and urging us on.

“We started the game well and we definitely had an edge to our game.

“I don’t recall Lou using anything about the situation with our fans during his team talk to give us an extra gee up, but the players certainly had it on our minds.

“We wanted to show what we were about, even against the odds, and in such circumstances.

“We knew we were up against four walls of blue inside the stadium, but we weren’t going to be intimidated.

“We took the lead through a brilliant free-kick from JC (John Collins). When we scored, there was absolute silence. It was very strange.

“You could just hear all of us shouting and screaming and rolling about the turf celebrating with one another.

“I always felt we were comfortable, but Rangers equalised late on and I think their goal came courtesy of a deflected Alexei Mikhailitchenko shot.

“After the game we felt really deflated as we desperately wanted to win.

“But we were also aware that a 1-1 draw wasn’t a bad result.

“I’m sure the current Celtic team will feel the same way. Avoiding defeat next Saturday will not be a bad result.

“However, if they leave Ibrox with the three points, then I think it will give them as much pleasure as any other victory against Rangers because they’ll be doing it against the odds, with only a small proportion of Celtic fans inside the stadium.

“But I’m certain they will sing their hearts out and make their presence felt.”

It would not be strictly correct to say there were no Celtic fans in the Ibrox stands back in 1994.

Donnelly’s dad and sister got into Ibrox after they were given a loan of two season tickets from Rangers supporters.

They had to sit on their hands and keep a straight face when Collins scored!

The following season, Celtic won 2-0 at Ibrox and Collins scored another wonderful free-kick. Donnelly enjoyed that occasion, one of the very few times he won at Ibrox.

He can see similarities in the current cycle of events – only this time in Celtic’s favour.

The last time Rangers defeated Celtic was back in April, 2016, on penalties in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final.

Ronny Deila was in charge at Parkhead and Mark Warburton was the Gers gaffer.

Deila was soon replaced by Brendan Rodgers, and in 12 Old Firm games since, Celtic have won 10 and drawn twice.

Donnelly said: “Back in my day, we played some great football against Rangers, but we rarely won.

“We would often have the bulk of the play and Andy Goram would be pulling off stunning saves.

“Then Rangers would go up the park, and a wee bit of magic from Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne or Ally McCoist would see them win the game.

“We’d be left shaking our heads, totally bewildered.

“I can see something similar just now, only in the favour of Celtic. Rangers have played well in some of the recent Old Firm games but can’t seem to win.

“The most telling was at Ibrox last season in the league when Rangers led twice and Celtic were down to 10 men.

“But Celtic equalised right on the stroke of half-time through Moussa Dembele to make it 2-2 and I could see the body language of the Rangers players wasn’t good.

“Their shoulders were slumped and the heads went down.

“It reminded me of us 20 years earlier. We often used to think: ‘What do we have to do to beat this lot?’

“Celtic eventually won 3-2 that day when Odsonne Edouard scored a cracker.

“But there is a real chance for Steven Gerrard and his players to win this time.

“They have a lot going for them and they have to use the atmosphere to their advantage.

“That said, Celtic aren’t the Champions for nothing. They know how to win important football games.

“Domestically, they are the masters, and have been all through Rodgers’ management.

“They have experience through the team, and players with that great habit of winning trophies. They will not be fazed, that’s for sure.

“But I will be interested to see the starting line-up Brendan goes for. He has options and it’s how he deploys the players available.

“They will also need to be strong defensively.

“Alfredo Morelos is an absolute handful, and he will be as keen as anyone to get on the scoresheet.

“It’s been well documented that he has missed two or three sitters against Celtic in the past year. But he has it in his locker to make amends for that and could be a matchwinner on Saturday.

“If Rangers can get service to him, then he has the ability to make Craig Gordon work.

“But Celtic also have players who can produce a moment of magic. James Forrest has been in stunning form, as has Callum McGregor.

“Kieran Tierney also thrives under the pressure and spotlight of an Old Firm game, and will cause James Tavernier problems.

“I’m anticipating an absolute cracker and it’s a game I’m looking forward to watching.

“There is so much up for grabs, and that only adds to the intrigue and drama of the occasion.”