Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor will miss the Celtic match next week after being sent off against Hibernian.
The seemingly consistently angry Ibrox goalkeeper made a huge blunder in their 1-0 win this afternoon. Jermaine Defoe’s goal meant that Rangers picked up the three points, but McGregor lost his head in the closing stages.
With Hibs striker Marc McNulty closing down a kick-out, McGregor needlessly kicked out at him. Bobby Madden subsequently flashed the red card, and it’s a huge boost for Celtic.
Rangers will of course have the option to appeal the red. Given how crazily inconsistent the appeal process is in Scotland, nothing is overly certain. But McGregor’s red card being upheld is as close to certain as is possible.
It will likely mean that Wes Foderingham will be in goal next Sunday.
A big boost for the Hoops
As much as we know of McGregor’s indiscipline this season, he is a sensational shot-stopper too. Once again, he saved two points for Rangers by denying Florian Kamberi late on before his sending off.
He’s consistently proved to be an incredible barrier against Celtic in the past too. He arguably stopped Rangers from being mauled at Parkhead back in September, and tends to find his form when facing us.
So his dismissal is hugely welcome ahead of next Sunday. Foderingham will have lost count of how many goals he’s lost to Celtic in recent years too. The likes of Odsonne Edouard, Tom Rogic, Scott Sinclair, and Olivier Ntcham have all slotted past him in recent meetings.
Just one day after becoming eight-in-a-row Premiership champions, this is another big boost for the trip to Ibrox. Surely, Steven Gerrard’s men won’t have the same fortune they carried against us back in December.
If Celtic stay as composed and energetic as they were in the first-half at Celtic Park in March, it should be one-way traffic. Not having McGregor to deal with up the other end is also a psychological boost for us too.
No doubt Foderingham will now have a blinder. But in any case, it’s good to see some justice being done ahead of next weekend.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
