Heart-broken Derek Johnstone is predicting an away win at Ibrox tomorrow.
The popular Radio Clyde pundit has stuck fiercely with every regime at Ibrox for over 20 years but fears for Pedro Caixinha in tomorrow’s derby clash.
Last season’s 5-1 hammering at Ibrox still causes nightmares for those on a blue persuasion with a repeat of that result unthinkable if the fifth best coach in Qatar is to be in charge next week.
Writing in the Evening Times Johnstone admits: “MY heart will always say a Rangers win in an Old Firm game but my head says that it will be Celtic that emerge victorious at Ibrox tomorrow.
“It is imperative that Rangers defend well first and foremost and try and stop Celtic playing from middle to front. If they can do that, then they have a chance.
“They have to defend better than they have been, they have to keep the ball a lot better than they have and they need to be more clinical than they have been.
“Up front, Alfredo Morelos has shown that he can score goals out of nothing and if he gets a chance on Saturday then he will have to take it.
“Rangers are going into the game and nobody gives them a hope. That should be a motivation for them to go out and prove everybody wrong.
“Celtic are far ahead of everybody in Scotland, but anything can happen over the course of 90 minutes and not all favourites win every game.
“Rangers will have to do something special to get something out of it, though, and every one of them will have to play well. If Celtic are in the mood and they are in form, then there is only one winner.
“I am biting my tongue when I say that, but you have to call it as you see it. It is not easy to say I don’t think we will win but it is clear that Celtic are huge favourites for this one, and rightly so.”
Sevco go into tomorrow’s match trailing the champions by five points after just six matches of the season.
With injury doubts over Bruno Alves and Declan John it seems certain that Caixinha will name a new look defence although he can call in Scotland’s greatest ever defender in Ross McCrorie.
Should Sevco decide to axe Caixinha the new boss will have two months to prepare for a possible meeting with Celtic with the two clubs kept apart in the semi-final draw for the League Cup.
