Ibrox plays host to Celtic and Glasgow Rangers this weekend in the last Old Firm derby of the Scottish Premiership season.
Celtic winger James Forrest has admitted to The Daily Record that December’s defeat at Rangers hurt him and his team-mates…..for weeks.
Steven Gerrard’s side beat Celtic 1-0 toward the end of 2018 to give the Gers a huge win over the Hoops, then managed by Brendan Rodgers.
It was their first Old Firm victory in 13 attempts against their bitter Glasgow rivals, a dry spell that went back as far as 2016.
Neil Lennon’s side have the chance to make amends for that day on Sunday when they return to Ibrox, this time as champions of Scotland after clinching an eighth successive Premiership title last weekend.
And Forrest says revenge is on the agenda for the Bhoys, who beat Gerrard’s troops 2-1 in a fiery clash at Parkhead in March.
“I’m sure when it comes to Ibrox the boys will no doubt be thinking about the last time we went there,” Forrest, valued at £10 million [The Times], told The Record.
“Yes, there were a few guys missing. But – as the manager at the time said – the boys playing who hadn’t been in the team before, playing in a match like that would give them experience.
“I’m sure even the fact that it didn’t go the way we had hoped, it would still have helped them. But there’s no doubt the boys were hurting for a good few weeks and longer.”
Rangers go into the contest on the back of a five-match winning streak. On this form, they could very well hurt Lennon’s side, who have a Scottish Cup final on the horizon.
Even still, the Celtic boss would be mad to play a weakened team. Even though everything is decided as far as the Premiership goes, there is always pride to play for on these occasions and Lennon would be wise to field his strongest possible XI.
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