Barry Ferguson's men refused to clap the Hoops onto the pitch in their first match since being crowned champions
08:49, 05 May 2025
Nedim Bajrami clashes with Greg Taylor
Former Rangers striker Andy Gray insists his old club should have risen above their fierce rivalry with Celtic and clapped the champions onto the pitch at Ibrox for the final Old Firm derby at Ibrox on Sunday.
But his old team-mate Ally McCoist insists a guard of honour between both sides will never happen “in a million years” as his radio sidekick Andy Townsend claimed it might have worked in the Rangers’ favour and fired them up after a low-key affair in Govan.
Townsend pointed to Chelsea who flew out the traps in their win over Liverpool after clapping the newly-crowned English Premier League champions out at Stamford Bridge.
Rangers refused to do the same for Celtic and it was the same when the roles were reversed four years ago after Steven Gerrard took his side across the city as champions.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS, show hosts Richard Keys brought up the issue with Gray, saying: “It’s not statutory, it’s a modern trend and I think it’s nice. But you know why I’m going to mention it - Rangers refused to give Celtic a guard of honour.
“I’m trying to protect Rangers because I do understand the depth (of rivalry). I just think if Rangers said, ‘we are going to do the right thing’ it wouldn’t be an issue.”
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Gray - a Rangers diehard and title winner during one season at his boyhood heroes - smiled: “I don’t think we were asked!”
Keys continued: “You are damned if you don’t and praised if you do. I know it’s a very difficult one for Rangers because it’s Celtic but I’d like to think the Toffees would have formed a guard of honour for Liverpool.
"I’m pretty sure (Manchester) United were given a guard of honour by Chelsea at one time.
Richard Keys and Andy Gray
"It’s the right thing to do, depending on when the title is one because if you win it early three or four teams could do it. It’s courteous.
And Gray conceded: “We should have done it. I do. Get it done and dusted and then go and beat them - that’s fine. We should have done it. It’s difficult, it’s at Ibrox but as difficult as that would be we should have done it.”
Speaking on talkSPORT radio’s breakfast show, former Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland lamented the lack of fire in the derby with the game’s only two bookings coming in the dying minutes.
He said: “That guard of honour that Chelsea gave Liverpool (on Sunday). That fired them up a bit because Chelsea came flying out the blocks.
"Obviously their need was greater on the day but they were excellent for the first 20 minutes. Maybe that’s something we’ll need to see in the Old Firm game - I’m being serious. If there was a guard of honour there might be a bit of needle.
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"But which team would do it first? I’d love to see it. It would be like theatre.”
Cackling sidekick McCoist said: “You’re right and do you know what they should do - behind both goals the fans should have a cup of tea and a bit of cake! It will never catch on, I don’t care what anyone says. Old Firm guard of honour? Never in a million years.”