The Old Firm formula

Neil McCann and Charlie Nicholas set the scene ahead of the first Old Firm game of the season.

Former Old Firm favourites share their memories

Sunday sees the biggest game in the Scottish football calendar live on Sky Sports... the Old Firm derby. Defending SPL champions Rangers and current leaders Celtic do battle for the first time this season at Ibrox, with four points separating the two. Our studio guests will be Charlie Nicholas and Neil McCann, both of whom have played - and starred - in Old Firm games in their time, so we asked them to set the scene. Here's what the former Scotland internationals recall from their Old Firm days, and what they expect from Sunday's huge showdown...

You'll both be there on Sunday, but more importantly you have played in these games before... what makes the Old Firm derby so special?
NEIL McCANN: In terms of what it means to the fans, it stands alone as a local derby. It has to be one of the most intense derbies not only in European football, but world football. They say Real Madrid-Barcelona splits Spain in half when they play and the Old Firm might not go that far, but it comes close. Because it means so much to the fans it doesn't really matter whether there's too many Scotsmen playing or not. I played with all sorts of internationals and it was still the same - absolute bedlum. It didn't matter where you were from, Scotland, England, Argentina, you know all that mattered was getting the right result from the game. This will actually be the first Old Firm game I've been to since I played in one, so I am really looking forward to it. CHARLIE NICHOLAS: It's the intense rivalry between the fans, pure and simple. That's what makes it one of the fieriest derbies in the world, and for that reason alone it's unique. It has unbelievable tension in the build-up and there is always something dramatic that comes out of the game itself, without fail. Even the dullest 0-0 draw will have something sensational that we all end up talking about. People might say the standard has dropped in quality over the past few years, but that won't matter one bit once that whistle goes at 12.30pm on Sunday, believe me. I have never ever watched or played in a dull Old Firm game - and I am delighted it's back on Sky Sports. It's still the one game I wish I could lace my boots up for. What is your first Old Firm memory?
McCANN: I'm from Port Glasgow so I was more than aware of it whenever it came round, simply because you couldn't avoid it in Scotland. But my first experience and vivid memory would have to be my Old Firm debut. It was January 1999, I hadn't been at the club long and we drew 2-2 at Ibrox, with Gabby Amato and Ross Wallace scoring. My team-mates had told me about it, warned me what to expect, but I can tell you nothing prepares you for it, nothing at all. People talk about being brave in football and they usually mean throwing yourself into a tackle or in front of a free-kick, but you have to be brave to want the ball in an Old Firm game because it is just pandemonium. You have to get right in the zone and concentrate so, so hard on what your job is. NICHOLAS: Well I went along to quite a few as a kid growing up in Glasgow, but I will never forget the first one I attended. Six of us travelled to Celtic Park on the bus and as three of them were Rangers fans, they couldn't wear their scarves or colours. We wanted to get there earlier and soak it up and all I remember is walking through The Jungle, and the three of them just carrying on walking, straight across into the Rangers end! I think we lost the game, but even as a kid without a care in the world the tension was unbearable - I remember biting my fingernails every time Rangers even looked like attacking! You've both played in a few Old Firm games and indeed, had starring roles? What are your favourite memories?
McCANN: I actually have two that were pretty special to me. One was the Scottish Cup final in 2002 when I crossed for Peter Lovenkrands to win it with the last kick of the game and the other is that game in 1999, when we went to Parkhead in a title decider and won 3-0. I was lucky enough to get two goals and the game is still clear in my mind. I remember being on the bus seeing hordes of fans making their way to the game and you could tell it meant so much to both sets of supporters, then once it started it was just so surreal. I scored first from a Rod Wallace cross and I remember thinking 'this is all going to kick-off'. The ref Hugh Dallas was hit by a coin before Jorge Albertz made it two with a penalty. Then I got another, slotting into an empty net to clinch the title. A supporter fell from the upper tier in the stands, and players were getting sent off left, right and centre. One thing I will always remember is that fan being carried away on a stretcher, still singing songs! Funnily enough the celebrations were a blur; I remember getting man of the match off Sky, doing the interviews and all that, but there was so much going on around and outside the ground that I don't really remember much else. I do remember Dick Advocaat coming up to me in training in the week telling me he was going to play me down the middle, which was a bit of a curveball. But it worked out OK, I guess. NICHOLAS: It's got to be the 1980-81 season when I scored a couple in a 3-1 win at Ibrox. It was the first time I'd played there and I can still remember the way the goals silenced the home fans. It is so dramatic because the place falls deathly quiet and then after a couple of seconds' delay, it hits the away end and this huge roar goes up. It was quite eerie and a weird and whacky feeling, but obviously very special. Winning an Old Firm game, never mind scoring, is a wonderful feeling, you suddenly feel invincible, untouchable and walk round 10-foot tall. Even at Ibrox, I didn't want to walk off that pitch. They say losing is not an option, but what are your worst memories?
McCANN: That's easy. August 27, 2000 - we got gubbed 6-2 at Parkhead when Henrik Larsson was at his best. He scored a hat-trick and I do remember him getting an absolutely world-class chip. That was a pretty sore one to take. The trouble is with losing an Old Firm, you know just what it is going to mean for the punters. There is so much other stuff that goes on around it that often detracts from the football. It can seem like losing is not an option. But I always think the best way to keep it in perspective is that at the end of the day, it's three points and although, obviously, I'm fully aware of what it means to the fans, it's the same three points Rangers or Celtic would get for beating the bottom club in the SPL. NICHOLAS: It has to be my first Old Firm game as a player. I was only a 17-year-old kid and literally, the tension was overpowering. You couldn't speak, you couldn't hear yourself speak and you certainly couldn't hear what anyone was saying back to you. It was absolutely spine-chilling, it really was. Danny McGrain was our captain at the time and he looked after me, but even then nothing prepared me for going out on that pitch. Even in the warm-up it was deafening. People like Danny had warned me about it, I had seen it from the terraces as a kid, but nothing had prepared me for it. It really was sink or swim time and I sank! We lost the game 3-0 as well.Looking ahead to Sunday, it's second versus first in the SPL, with four points between them. What have you made of their respective seasons so far?
McCANN: I worked on the Sevilla game the other night and was so impressed with Rangers in the first half, but as soon as they lost that first goal they had to change and come out - then we saw the class of the Spaniards. In the SPL they have struggled for goals all season; I am not sure why, because it's not as if they aren't creating chances, they just can't find the back of the net. But they are still unbeaten and the pleasing thing is they do look well-organised and are not conceding goals. Like Charlie says, the seven-point game is not an issue at this stage; I've heard fans on the radio saying the title is already over, but history has shown that is not the case - you only have to look at last season to realise that. I am sure Rangers can come through this barren spell in front of goal. NICHOLAS: Neither side is playing that well, yet both are still unbeaten, which says a lot about the SPL this season. Rangers have really struggled to score goals, while Tony Mowbray has - quite rightly - not been happy with Celtic's performances of late. He needs more from individual players, particularly Scott Brown, if things are going to improve. But if they keep on winning, it won't matter too much. Still, form is totally irrelevant on this one and if Celtic can get out of Ibrox without getting beat, they will be more than happy. A win will put them seven points clear, but if you consider twice last season Gordon Strachan's side were seven points clear but went on to blow it, you can see that this is not a back-breaker in terms of the title. Mind you, that won't make the blindest bit of difference. OK, it's time to stick your necks on the line. Give us a prediction for Sunday...
McCANN: I am going to stick my neck out and go for a 2-1 win to Rangers. They will attack Celtic from the off - they have no choice in an Old Firm game at Ibrox - and I do think in Kenny Miller they have a match winner. Of course the script was written for him to go to Celtic and score two last season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a say again. He has this wonderful knack of bouncing back; he seems to be resilient, whether he misses chances or gets stick from whoever, he just comes back bigger and better NICHOLAS: I am finding it hard to separate these two and I really don't want to put my neck on the line until I see how both sides are lining up. Celtic have to get Aiden McGeady fit and then give him a free role, up there alongside Georgios Samaras, and I hope they go there to attack them, I really do. If Rangers go with five in midfield, they should be too strong for Celtic and I would expect Pedro Mendes and Kevin Thompson to dominate. As it stands, I am going to go for 2-2 - and there will be plenty to talk about!