Glasgow Rangers face Celtic at Ibrox next Saturday hoping to pick up their first win over their bitter rivals since 2016.
Rangers will need no reminding that since their return to the Scottish Premiership, they have failed to beat Celtic in any fixture between the two, picking up just one draw in the six meetings that took place last season.
You would have to go back to the Scottish Cup semi-final in 2016 for the last time the Gers beat the Hoops, as the then-Scottish Championship side booked their place in the final with a penalty shootout victory.
One of the key reasons for their victory on that day was the way that Andy Halliday seemed to play Scott Brown off the park.
Andy Halliday celebrating the win over Celtic at Hampden Park
While Halliday may have won the midfield battle on that day, it is safe to say that their careers have gone down significantly different paths since, as while Halliday remains on Rangers’ books, he will not be featuring for Pedro Caixinha’s side at Ibrox next weekend.
Brown – seemingly rushed back from injury too quickly in the months leading up to that game at Hampden Park – has gone from strength to strength, inspiring and leading Celtic to an Invincible season in the Scottish Premiership last term.
Scott Brown
Many thought the 32-year-old may be past it after the defeat against the Gers, but it was confirmed on the club’s official website this week that he has extended his contract until 2019, and it is arguably thoroughly deserved based on his form over the last 12 months.
Meanwhile, Halliday – who struggled to get into Caixinha’s side last season – left Ibrox to join Azerbaijan side Gabala on loan in the summer.
But the move appears to have done little to prove a point to Caixinha, as he has not featured for the side since their first game in August, proving to be an unused substitute on a number of occasions since.
So less than 18 months after Halliday put in a display that hinted that Brown’s career may be in decline, it is the former that has almost disappeared off the radar while the latter remains so influential that Caixinha will need probably need one of his current midfielders to enjoy a blinder if the Gers are going to end their wait for a win.
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