That is Rodgers’ only change for the game at Celtic Park with former Liverpool defender Kolo Toure set to experience his first Glasgow derby.
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Rangers, who beat Celtic on penalties to reach the Scottish Cup final a year ago, have only one player surviving from the last league clash between the sides, skipper Lee Wallace. In the third qualifying round, with Celtic facing extra time against Astana, he embarked on a mazy dribble that won a penalty kick from which he was decisive.
Griffiths’ absence would be an obvious blow to the Hoops and a boost to Rangers who are trailing Celtic at the top of the table by one point having played a game more.
Rangers go into this game with the pressure off away from home and with less experience than their opponents which does make them unsafe but as both sets of players and Managers will know, the Old Firm Derby is like no other match in world football with the pace and atmosphere likely to be second to none.
The Rangers manager stressed that Rangers are far better than the story told by Saturday’s 5-1 result and insisted they’ll prove that once his 11 new signings have fully integrated.
“They have bragging rights and deserved to win”.
When Barrie pulled his shot just wide I turned to Davie and said: “If we get this goal here we’re in good shape”.
Rodgers said, “I think he has shown great discipline”.
Warburton repeated an assertion that the game is only worth three points and the importance should not be overstated in the context of the league season.
Rangers boss Mark Warburton has stated that he hopes to use the underdogs to his team’s advantage, as was the case in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final. “And if we do that, we will be in a good place”. He said: “The sending-off, I can’t defend, it’s a red card”.
“I’m never going to condone men being sent off but you send off Senderos because he had to go and the other player had to go as well”.
Rangers captain Lee Wallace feels sure that striker Joe Garner will be happy to be up and running in terms of goals, even though his strike came in a painful 5-1 defeat away at Celtic.
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“But I don’t think anything will prepare you from watching on the television to actually being there”.
