The post-match fallout from Celtic’s commanding victory over Rangers continues to ripple through the footballing landscape, with former Ibrox stalwart Barry Ferguson the latest to weigh in on the outcome.
This week, Celtic supporters have already revelled in the reactions of Ally McCoist, who was visibly devastated by the result, and Graeme Souness, whose rather curious assessment of the gap between the two Glasgow giants has raised eyebrows. Now, Ferguson has stepped forward to share his own thoughts on the bruising defeat.
In his column for the Daily Record, Ferguson didn’t shy away from admitting the sting of the loss, especially given his presence in the Parkhead director’s box during Celtic’s 3-0 dismantling of Rangers.
“I’m not going to lie. This one hurts,” he confessed. “Maybe it was because I was there to watch it with my own eyes, sitting in the directors’ box at Parkhead.
“Perhaps it was the joy on the faces of the Celtic fans when they were doing their wee huddle dance and laughing in my face when their team was 3-0 up. It was interesting, let’s just leave it at that.”
It’s clear that, while Ferguson’s pain was primarily rooted in the performance of his own side, the antics of the Celtic faithful added salt to the wound.
He lamented that Rangers hadn’t lost “the proper way” and that the team’s display was far from what was expected in such a crucial fixture. But the behaviour of the Celtic fans clearly grated on him, a point not lost on his former adversary, Chris Sutton.
Sutton, who has often found himself on the receiving end of stick from Rangers supporters during his punditry stints for Sky Sports, couldn’t resist poking fun at Ferguson’s discomfort. Taking to social media, Sutton quipped:
“Can Celtic fans please stop doing the huddle when Barry is at Parkhead please…”
Celtic’s triumph over their city rivals has significant implications in the early stages of the Scottish Premiership. The victory propels them five points clear at the top of the table, while Rangers languish in fourth place, trailing Dundee United by a point.
The upcoming fixtures could prove pivotal; Rangers will travel to Tannadice to face a resurgent Dundee United, while Celtic take on a struggling Hearts side later the same day.
Should Rangers falter and drop points in Tannadice, and Celtic secure a win at Tynecastle, the pressure on Ferguson and his side will undoubtedly intensify.
At this early juncture in the season, the stakes are already high, and any further slip-ups could have serious consequences for Rangers as they try to keep pace with their arch-rivals.