OLD FIRM: Rangers manager Graeme Murty upbeat before Celtic encounter

Under Graeme Murty the Ibrox men have twice achieved creditable draws at Celtic Park during the past 12 months – indeed on the last occasion just before the turn of the year the Light Blues could and perhaps should have secured all three points with only two superb Craig Gordon saves from James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos denying the visitors in a pulsating second-half.

The manager left no-one in any doubt as to exactly what this game means to him.

“I am desperate to experience the atmosphere, I have been to their ground and I enjoyed the atmosphere but this is ours and this will be special. To be Rangers’ manager in an Old Firm game at Ibrox will be possibly the biggest moment of my career so far. 

“It’s something I’m really looking forward to.

“This is the first time we have gone into this fixture and they have been talking about the game, which is a real positive for me in how far we have come as a football club and a squad.” 

And Murty however emphasised the progress the club has made since that Parkhead draw.

“We are closer to them than we were, we are a different team now - but this is the test.

“We’re in a good place at the moment and this is where we establish how far we have come and how far yet we still have to go.

“If we take all three points then it will be another sign that we’re improving and getting closer to where we want to be.

“The three points are on offer for us and if we get them then we put ourselves in a fantastic place to go and finish the season off really strongly,” he added.