Kevin Kyle delivers 'brutal' verdict on what he saw in Rangers vs Celtic, it's underselling the game
Derek McInnes celebrated victory in his first derby as gaffer, as Rangers ran out 3-0 winners in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final tie at Ibrox.
Dan Neil was the surprise hero, scoring twice for the hosts, with Kevin Kelsy also on target for Rangers.
By pure coincidence, Rangers will go up against their fierce rivals again on Sunday (20 September) as the teams meet again in the Scottish Premiership at Celtic Park.
McInnes will be out to prove that Rangers' victory was no one-off when they visit enemy territory.
But for former Rangers striker Kevin Kyle, something hugely important will still be missing from the fixture.
Kevin Kyle rues Old Firm decision after what he saw
Unfortunately, Old Firm fixtures in the Scottish Premiership (and in the League Cup game) will be played in the absence of away supporters.
The SFA took the decision when a solution could not be found following crowd trouble in the Scottish Cup clash between the sides back in March.
There have been issues over allocations for away supporters in the Old Firm now for the best part of a decade, and there is no imminent solution on the horizon.
Kyle and former Celtic player Peter Grant discussed the lack of away fans in the Old Firm on the Go Radio Football Show, and agreed that the fixture loses something because of it.
Kyle said: "It's brutal, that's the only word I can use to describe it. We're underselling our game, we're not showcasing the most important game.
"The most important thing to try and sell our league to make it better is what the Old Firm do on the park.
"The fact we have no fans in there it doesn't have the same appetite growing up as a kid watching these games and getting excited by it being on TV, or on the radio, the atmosphere and the noise.
"Watching it now, it's just one set of fans, it takes so much away from the game. It loses that appeal it had a little bit."
Grant added: "I'm a great believe in supporters of both clubs should be at the games, 100 per cent.
"Celtic should have the full end at Ibrox and vice-versa what Rangers used to get at Celtic Park. You've got guys who always want to cause trouble, inside or outside, so you'll always have these guys.
"But they always used to get looked after in the past, so I go back to I thought the security was really poor in the last game."
Rangers and Celtic need to find a solution
Everyone agrees that a solution needs to be found here.
The Old Firm is one of the most famous matches in world football, and millions around the world have grown up watching it.
But there is no doubt that what made it so special was the rivalry between the two sets of supporters, and the atmosphere that generated.
You certainly lose something by keeping away fans from being in attendance, and frankly the fact there is no solution yet is baffling.
Both clubs and all the relevant authorities need to find a long-term solution, because you really do lose something by having away fans shut out.