Old Firm derby set to be a family affair for Rangers’ Fabio Cardoso

FABIO CARDOSO will take part in his first senior derby when he runs out for Rangers against Celtic on Saturday.

Signed from Vitoria Setubal in the summer, the Portuguese has made a positive impression in the centre of the defence playing alongside countryman Bruno Alves.

Yet, as he admitted with a grin, he knows he has seen nothing yet with the Ibrox clash offering the varied possibilities of instant celebrity and lasting notoriety.

“I have seen these games on television and for me it’s a massive show, unbelievable, from another world,” said the 23-year-old.

“It’s a really big, big derby that is beautiful for football.

“Football needs more games like this – the passion the people of Scotland show and our supporters give to us. And, for me, it will be extra special because it will be my first.

“In youth football development with Benfica I played a lot of derbies but never at first-team level.

“So I’m starting very high, which is very exciting.

“My mum, my uncle and my girlfriend are all coming over because it’s such a big game and everyone wants to see it.”

One man’s exciting is another’s nerve-shredding, but Cardoso is relaxed about the thought of pitting his skills against those of Celtic stars such as Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths in an environment where any defensive error is likely to be dissected over and over again.

“It is OK because this is our life,” he said.

“We know that football is moments – one day you are OK, the other you are not OK. We need that pressure.

“When the supporters support like they do, they have the right to demand big things from us.

“They give us their all and have the right to expect the same.”

Which, the defender admits, Rangers didn’t quite deliver at Firhill on Friday night when being held to a 2-2 draw against 10-man Partick Thistle.

The Gers were ahead early on through Alfredo Morelos, but a stunning free-kick from Blair Spittal and a Charlie Erskine goal gave the hosts the lead before stand-in captain Graham Dorrans netted the leveller

“It’s always hard to win games, but it was our fault on Friday,” he said.

“We committed a lot of mistakes in the second half and the other team was smart and took advantage.

“When a team scores two away goals, we have to win the game.

“We committed too many defensive mistakes and didn’t have control of the game.

“I watched the 5-1 game from last season. Celtic scored first and Rangers lost the head and they don’t control the game and take their opportunities.

“That is football. Whether losing or winning we have to be calm and believe in ourselves to control and kill the game in the right moments.”

Tuesday offers Rangers a quick chance to make amends against the Jags, after a fashion anyway, when the two sides do it all over again the League Cup quarter-final.

Firhill is again the venue with Thistle’s new signing Paul McGinn hoping for a friendlier reception from the visiting support.

“It was like I had never been away,” he said.

“I was getting a bit of stick from the Rangers fans on my side and had a cup launched at me! – thankfully their aim was off.

“At one point we thought we had them. They were on the ropes and their fans were getting on at them a little bit.

“It wasn’t to be, but I was impressed, as I have been since coming here, and hopefully now we can kick on.”