MX23RW : Sunday, October 18 06:24:33| >> :120:33585:33585:
Oct 17, 2020 at 12.30pm UK at Celtic Park
CelticCeltic
0-2
RangersRangers

Brown (62'), Duffy (85')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Goldson (9', 54')
Arfield (60'), Morelos (85')

Neil Lennon admits "huge ingredient" will be "missing" from Old Firm derby

Neil Lennon admits
© Reuters
There will be no fans in attendance when Celtic take on Rangers this weekend.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon admits the absence of fans against Rangers on Saturday will make it an Old Firm derby like no other.

The first meeting of the Glasgow giants this year will be behind closed doors at Parkhead due to coronavirus restrictions.

The former Celtic captain believes so many factors that make the age-old fixture special will be absent.

Celtic v KR Reykjavik – UEFA Champions League – Qualifying – First Round – Celtic Park
The Old Firm derby will be played behind closed doors (Andrew Milligan/PA)

He said: "It is a huge ingredient that is going to be missing. The electricity, the atmosphere, the rawness, the noise – the colour.

"All that is going to be missing. You have to adapt to it as best you can.

"I think it is very difficult for this generation of players to go through what they are going through without supporters.

"We have adapted as well as anybody. Our focus has got to be on playing the game, obviously trying to win the game.

"That doesn't change. What they will miss is the noise and that edge these games bring. So we have to try to devise our own edge."

Rangers lead the champions by a point having played a game more.

Steven Gerrard File Photo
Steven Gerrard's Rangers are top of the table (Andrew Milligan/PA)

However, Lennon, whose side have won their last eight matches, insists it is too early for any conclusions to be drawn from the result.

He said: "It is way too early. We had this conversation after we won at Ibrox last year and after we lost at Celtic Park in December.

"It didn't pan out the way that people assumed it was going to or predicted.

"We are on a good run, we want to maintain that consistency. I want to get all my players back fit because we have a real heavy block of games coming up, great games, very exciting players for them to really thrive on and it is really unfortunate that there is going to be no supporters there to see it.

"But for the players, individual performances, the club and team development they are brilliant games to look forward to."

ID:418529:

Click here for more stories about Neil Lennon

Click here for more stories about Celtic

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Greg Docherty in action for Rangers in July 2019
Read Next:
Greg Docherty tips Saturday's Old Firm derby to be a "high-scoring affair"
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
Read more about Neil Lennon Football

rhs 2.0
Premier League
Championship
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Swedish Allsvenskan
Danish Superliga
Finnish Veikkausliiga
League of Ireland Premier
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Eerste Divisie
Major League Soccer
Brasileiro
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Chinese Super League
J1 League
Premier League 2 - Div 1
Women's Super League
International Rugby Union Friendlies
Super League
NFL
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1RangersRangers119202632329
2Celtic108112571825
3Hibernian116321610621
4Aberdeen9612106419
5Kilmarnock104241512314
6Dundee UnitedDundee Utd11335816-812
7Ross County11335716-912
8Livingston113261318-511
9St Johnstone11317916-710
10Motherwell9225713-68
11St Mirren10217615-97
12Hamilton AcademicalHamilton102171121-107

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!