For Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, it will be a first experience of a fixture many say is unlike any other.
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Warburton wasn’t happy with Philippe Senderos for being shown a second yellow card for a needless handball.
The league leaders are now four points clear of Rangers with an additional league fixture in hand. The first 20 minutes were nip and tuck. We will still be going to Parkhead looking to dominate the ball, looking to create chances and score goals. “It was a very dominant performance and I thought we showed a lot of great traits”.
“For us to come back (after the worldwide break) and play to that intensity and that level and be that clinical, it was a joy to see”, he said. Prediction: Celtic 3-1 Rangers.
But he confessed the sting as the goals flew in around him at Celtic Park was the sharpest he has felt in his Rangers spell.
Rodgers and the Celtic players have the added distraction of their upcoming Champions League game in midweek but this match is even more important with three points for either side likely to give them the impetus for the rest of the campaign.
“So while there’s heartache in that dressing room – we’re going to have to put it right quickly”.
The former Brentford manager said: “We’re obviously disappointed”. When Barrie pulled his shot just wide I turned to Davie and said: “If we get this goal here we’re in good shape”. The support from them was magnificent, but we don’t come here, or anywhere, and lose goals like that.
Speaking to the official Rangers website, Warburton said: “This is the first league encounter, last season’s semi-final had 50/50 in terms of fans but Saturday will be heavily weighted one way so it will be a different type of atmosphere and a different weight of expectation”.
Craig John Shields: With one eye on a trip to Barcelona on Tuesday, Celtic’s strength-in-depth should be enough to see off a spirited Rangers side.
Warburton said: “We just got beat 5-1 so I’m not going to sit here like an idiot”.
“Every supporter loves a team that works tirelessly and works hard and that’s what this team did today and they got their reward as they have quality”. That is what I see in Scott.
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“You listened to what we asked and behaved accordingly which has helped our officers ensure the safety of everyone attending the venue”.
