MX23RW : Friday, December 13 01:10:52| >> :60:1499:1499:
[monks data]
Attendance: 58,902
Celtic logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 21
Dec 29, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Rangers logo

1-2

Edouard (42')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Kent (36'), Katic (56')

Connor Goldson: 'Rangers can turn the passion of Parkhead against Celtic'

Ibrox defender Connor Goldson believes his side can turn the noise levels up on Neil Lennon's team by frustrating the hosts this weekend.

Connor Goldson wants Rangers to use the passion of Parkhead against Celtic on Sunday.

The atmosphere generated by the Hoops faithful is renowned the world over having helped their team soar to famous wins against some of the game's biggest names.

But Ibrox defender Goldson believes his side can turn the noise levels up on Neil Lennon's team by frustrating the hosts this weekend.

Rangers had to deal with their own anxious legions letting rip as they allowed their bitter rivals to raid Ibrox for three points in the opening Old Firm battle of the campaign back in September, with the moans and groans growing with every missed chance and misplaced pass.

But Goldson believes his side can gain revenge by turning the derby din on the champions this weekend.

He said: "We're all professional footballers, we've been in these atmospheres before, whether it is on a European stage or if it's in an Old Firm away from home.

"It can work in your favour at the same time, if we go there and start well and put the game in our favour and can quiet the crowd.

"We know what it's like at home, we lost there earlier in the season and it can get nervy when you have the majority of the fans on your back or demanding more.

"We have to play on that and we have to use that in our advantage and if we can quieten the crowd and start well early on then it can work in our favour."

Steven Gerrard's team dominated the last meeting of the Glasgow giants at Hampden earlier this month but watched on with stunned disbelief as Christopher Jullien's controversial winner stole the Betfred Cup for Celtic.

To lose in such a heartbreaking manner was a body blow for Goldson, who admits he would rather have trudged out of the national stadium on the back of a drubbing.

He added: "The feeling after the game at Hampden was horrible, especially with it being a cup final. It was probably my worst day in football.

"Sometimes you think you'd rather come out of there having been battered and lost 3-0 or 4-0 rather than lose the way we did as it was heartbreaking knowing we controlled a whole game of football but did not get the rewards.

"We can use that pain as motivation, but we also need to use our performance and our levels on the day as a platform.

"We showed everyone, our fans, ourselves, that the game is not a mismatch and we are just as good as them.

"We know that we can outplay them at times, but we know that we are playing a good team and we have to perform to that level in every minute of the game to make sure that we come away with something.

"We had the belief before that game that we could go toe-to-toe with them. I think that we have improved this season and that probably in my first game there away last season – when we lost 1-0 – was the only time that we haven't gone toe-to-toe with them.

"I think that every game has been tight. Obviously, we have won some and we've lost some, but I've never felt like we've been completely outmatched or outplayed in an Old Firm."

ID:384281: cacheID:384281:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4538:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jonny Hayes during a Celtic training session on December 12, 2018
Read Next:
Jonny Hayes back from injury for Old Firm derby
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1514104444043
2Aberdeen16104230181234
3RangersRangers1510232791832
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd156632215724
5Motherwell157171823-522
6Dundee165472729-219
7St Mirren165381926-718
8Ross County163671230-1815
9St Johnstone1642101829-1114
10Kilmarnock163581734-1714
11Hearts163491825-713
12Hibernian162681828-1012


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!