Former Celtic striker Joe Miller joined me to preview the Glasgow Derby for the Celtic Soul Podcast ahead of the big game. Joe knows what it is like to play in the game and he knows how biased the officials have always been against Celtic.
Celtic Legend Billy McNeill was Joe’s manager and Billy was in no doubt the referees loyalties were with the blue half of Glasgow and indeed anyone else who played Celtic.
Joe knows privately that Martin O’Neill will be telling the players the same ahead of the must win game for Celtic to keep the bhoys title hopes alive. Like Joe and big Billy, O’Neill is no stranger to the Glasgow Derby; he hinted at the pre-match press conference that this would be his last as journalists fished for information on if he would be staying around for next season.
O’Neill knocked this version of rangers out of both cups this season at Hampden and Ibrox and a late Hatate penalty at Ibrox in the league to salvage a point. This will be the Celtic manager’s first time in the Celtic dugout against them since 2005.
Speaking to the gathered press , Martin O’Neill said: “I’m really looking forward to the game. There’s plenty to play for – there always seems to be, too, but particularly now, coming to the back end of the season.
“You would have to say it’s actually out of Rangers’ hands, so from that viewpoint, that’s probably the only thing that’s changed.
“That’s not to say you would rule them out but at the minute, with games running out, it’s out of their hands.
“Regardless of what the result was before, it will be a strong Rangers side and I think there’ll be a big reaction as well, so we’ve got to be ready for that ourselves. But the place will be rocking on Sunday.”
https://youtu.be/wbZXxdQibNs?si=qARqceNtBCf6HCjn
Daizen Maeda limped off the pitch at Easter Road last weekend but thankfully he is fit for the game on Sunday. His return to form is a case of better late than never and he should prove a handful for the rangers defence.
I travel over to Glasgow on Saturday and will be tuning in like so many other Celtic fans to the Motherwell V Hearts game. Let us hope that Motherwell can do us a favour and take something from the game before Celtic go into battle.
The Celtic fans have been in fine form over the last few weeks and O’Neill has spoken about how much it has helped the team. It’s going to be another tension filled weekend which has become the norm these days.
Bring on the Rangers!
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
