NafisaCeltic rallied from behind to thwart Rangers’ attempt at a third consecutive triumph over their rivals, as Adam Idah’s second-half goal vexed Barry Ferguson’s home team in the Scottish Premiership.
Nicolas Raskin had an early header disallowed for offside before Cyriel Dessers scored his 25th goal of the season for Rangers just before the interval, only for Republic of Ireland international Idah to seize the moment and equalize.
The stalemate marks Rangers’ failure to secure a victory at Ibrox for the seventh consecutive match, an unprecedented streak in their history.
Celtic secured a 13th Scottish Premiership championship in 14 seasons last weekend when Brendan Rodgers’s squad established an insurmountable lead with four games remaining.
Celtic also matched Rangers with 55 Scottish league titles each, a milestone that pained the blue half of Glasgow heading into the Old Firm Derby on Sunday afternoon.
“It (guard of honour) has never happened in the past and there’s been this huge clamour about it,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “If I put myself in the shoes of a champion, it wouldn’t really bother me.
“I think if you ask any of the Celtic players, I don’t think it would bother them either. It’s always been that way. Let’s just continue that way.”
The same occurred when Steven Gerrard’s Rangers clinched their 55th title in the 2020-21 season, with Celtic’s then-interim boss John Kennedy stating they would not even applaud their rivals who prevented a 10th consecutive title.
“But one thing I will do is I will shake Brendan’s hand and say, ‘Well done for being so dominant,’ as there’s no doubt that’s been the case this year and that’s got to hurt,” Ferguson added.
“It certainly hurts me and the staff and it’s got to hurt the players as well.”
Celtic’s manager remained unfazed about a guard of honour.
“It’s not in the rules that you have to do it. I think that when two clubs and the rivalry’s so emotional, it’s always difficult for the team that comes up short,” said Rodgers, who has won four Premiership titles with Celtic in two stints.
“I always think if you’re a champion or not a champion, showing that humility to the other team, whatever the rivalry is, it’s a mark of respect.
“Celtic-Rangers is an emotional rivalry and if you come up short quite a lot then it can be a challenge for you and to justify that with your supporters. But, as I said, I’m a traditionalist.”
England, however, will adhere to tradition.
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