Ally McCoist may be preparing for his first-ever Old Firm game as manager on Sunday, but he is no stranger to the feisty Glasgow encounter (Rangers 6/4 draw 9/4 Celtic 9/5).
The 48-year-old hit 273 goals in 581 appearances during a 15-year-long playing career at Ibrox, before enjoying two spells as assistant to manager Walter Smith.
Smith retired over the summer allowing McCoist to make step-up into his first managerial role. The former Scotland international has made a solid start to life in the Ibrox hotseat, wining five and drawing one of their opening six league games to sit a point clear of Celtic at the top.
However, he now faces his biggest test to date when his side play host to their bitter local rivals on Sunday lunchtime.
The Old Firm games are often pivotal in deciding who wins the SPL title, given the last side to win the league outside of the Glasgow duo was Aberdeen in 1985.
McCoist is all too aware of the size of Sunday’s encounter, especially on a personal level now he is manager.
“I was very lucky as a player against Celtic and hopefully I’ve kept some of that luck,” said McCoist. “The pressure as assistant manager was very intense and I realise the responsibility is certainly greater.
“I understand the enormity of the occasion, having played in so many and being an assistant in so many. I’m not sure it will feel any different because the desire to win and to do well will be absolutely massive.”
The Gers did suffer early season disappointment in Europe, losing at first to Malmo in Champions League qualifying and then to NK Maribor in the Europa League.
However, their early European exit does mean they have had a week to prepare for Sunday’s game, a luxury not afforded to Celtic, who lost 2-0 away at Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Thursday night (Rangers 6/1 to win 1-0).
Their boss Neil Lennon believes that could work in their favour, affording them an early chance to make amends for that defeat in Spain.
“Going from the European game into the Old Firm game is probably the best thing that can happen,” said the 40-year-old.
“Sometimes you can come back from a European game and there is a flatness going about your SPL duties but with a game of this magnitude, it can be easy to motivate the players.”
Lennon had the upper hand in Old Firm clashes last season, winning three, drawing two and losing two of the seven matches.
After one of those games – a Scottish League Cup clash in March – Lennon and McCoist had an infamous fight on the touchline.
The duo promptly apologised after the game, aware of the influence their behaviour may have on the terraces, but their presence in each dugout merely adds to what is already a passionate affair.
Value bets:
Nikica Jelavic to score first 5/1
1-1 draw 11/2.
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