Chris Sutton sends Willie Collum message ahead of Rangers v Celtic in Old Firm showdown
Chris Sutton has sent a message of warning to Willie Collum and John Beaton ahead of the latest Old Firm instalment of the season as Rangers welcome Celtic to Ibrox.
Collum will be on VAR duties for the game, and Sutton has warned him only to get involved if there is a “Serious injustice” that has been missed on the field.
Rangers are currently nine points behind in the Scottish Premiership, and desperately need the win to make sure the title race stays alive into 2023.
Writing in his latest Daily Record column, Sutton sent out a clear message ahead of what promises to be the biggest game of the Scottish season on Monday.
“Ibrox should be a magnificent occasion,” he wrote.
“I just worry about what is going to happen and whether the game is going to descend into a farce. Beaton has to be strong and must make the right calls at the correct time.
“And Collum in the VAR bunker should only get involved if it’s necessary or there’s a serious injustice. The Old Firm is a showcase fixture. We can’t let it turn into a shambles.”
Injustice.
There has been plenty of drama in the recent Old Firms, not only on the pitch.
Who can forget the last clash at Ibrox, with bottles thrown onto the pitch and the drama in the stands, with a much different outcome needed this time around.
Michael Beale will be tasting his first Old Firm as a manager, and he will be warning his players to keep their heads in the game, and let their football do the talking.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn’t have much success in these games, but he did get that Scottish Cup win last season at Hampden Park which he can keep hold of.
Beale has talked a good game ahead of this one, but it means nothing if we are blasted out of sight instantly just as the first Old Firm went at Parkhead.
There will always be controversy in these games, it’s just how Beaton and Collum are going to handle it, let’s hope we’re talking about a big Bears win on Monday, and not another shambles.
In other Rangers news, a £5million twist has emerged in Southampton’s bid to sign Ryan Kent