RANGERS are in Old Firm action at Ibrox tomorrow against Celtic at 12pm and you can read some interesting Fast Facts about the game right here.
This will be the 167th time that Rangers have hosted Celtic in a home league fixture, more than any other team. The first nine matches were played at First Ibrox Park with three wins a piece and three draws being recorded. There have also been two home matches played at Hampden in season 1978/79 due to the early renovation works at Ibrox Stadium with the Light Blues winning one and drawing the other of these games. Overall, Rangers have won 81 and lost 42 of the previous 166 home league contests, scoring 266 goals and conceding 180.
Rangers’ recent home league victories over Celtic have tended to be achieved with a clean sheet. Of the Light Blues last 14 home league victories in Old Firm matches, dating back to April 2007, ten have been achieved with a shutout, including five of the last six, the one exception being the 4-1 victory in May 2021. By contrast, only half of Celtic’s last 14 home league victories in the fixture have been achieved without conceding.
A victory this afternoon would mean that Rangers would have beaten all eleven of their league rivals under the guidance of Philippe Clement. Since his first league game against Hibernian in October, all ten of the other teams in the SPFL Premiership have been defeated at least once, with nine teams tasting defeat at the first attempt and only Aberdeen requiring more than one game to get the first three points. This will be only the second meeting with Celtic since the Belgian took the reins, with Ross County now the only side faced on one occasion so far. By contrast, both Hearts and Hibernian have each had three league meetings with Rangers in the same timeframe with an additional cup tie with both teams also thrown in for good measure.
Ally McCoist remains the only player from either side to have scored in three consecutive Old Firm league games on two separate occasions. Rangers’ record goalscorer in the fixture achieved this feat for the first time in 1985, scoring in two 1-1 draws at Celtic Park in May and August, before getting the final goal in a 3-0 home win in November. His second run began with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park in November 1986 and ended at the same venue in April 1987, having also scored the second goal in a 2-0 victory at Ibrox on New Year’s Day of 1987 as Rangers began to close in on their first League Championship in nine years.
James Tavernier was the only player to start all four of Rangers league games against Celtic last season, albeit with John Lundstram (3 starts, 1 sub app) and Ryan Jack and Fashion Sakala (both 2 starts, 2 sub apps) also involved in all four games. So far this season, along with the captain, Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Connor Goldson, Cyriel Dessers and Todd Cantwell have all started both Old Firm encounters with John Souttar, Ridvan Yilmaz and Abdallah Sima also involved in both games, all starting once and coming off the bench on the other occasion.
You can read more Fast Facts within the matchday programme for the Old Firm game.
Every issue has the best exclusive interviews and in-depth features, read more about what you can find in the Celtic issue below:
Our main feature is with Jack Butland who has his sights set on helping Rangers secure three valuable points from the eagerly anticipated Old Firm clash at Ibrox.
Our focus on the 1998-99 season twenty five years on reaches April, where after losing in Perth, Rangers get their revenge then see title rivals slip up at McDiarmid Park as they set up a potential title clincher in an Old Firm clash.
We have a welcome message and update from CEO James Bisgrove as well as Philippe Clement's and Captain James Tavernier's programme notes.
The full lowdown on Celtic and matches between the clubs with Oppo Focus, Previous Meetings, Fast Facts and more.
Fresh from a call up to Pedro Martinez Losa's Scotland squad for the upcoming UEFA Women's European Qualifiers, Sarah Ewens speaks on her pride at getting international recognition.
Club historian David Mason has an indepth article looking at the career of Alan Morton, the archetypal Rangers man.
Former Gers midfielder Lewis Macleod speaks about how thrilled he is to have joined the clubs Academy coaching staff. Lewis was speaking to Rangers Youth Development Company.
We have an insightful feature looking at the Host Family Programme, who look after young Rangers players, playing a crucial part in helping young players through their development journey.
There's all our regular features like On This Day, the Half Time Quiz, Junior Gers results, fixtures, a check in with the Rangers Charity Foundation and more!
All this plus so much more can be found in 84-page issue, price just £4.
Programmes can be purchased pre-match at Ibrox Stadium from our sellers outside the stadium, at the bar in Edmiston House, within the Museum Store or at every kiosk inside the stadium, or online HERE.