Celtic hero explains what he learned from chance 2002 meeting with Paul McStay after Hoops loss to Rangers

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Last weekend proved the Celtic and Rangers rivalry is still alive and kicking.

Celtic lost 3-2 to Rangers last Sunday on what was a miserable day for the league leaders who saw their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership cut by three points.

It is still a 13-point lead at the summit but the loss still hurt considering it was against Barry Ferguson’s Light Blues and the third Glasgow derby in a row where Celtic have shipped three goals.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	30	24	3	3	89	20	69	75
2	RangersRangers	30	19	5	6	62	28	34	62
3	HibernianHibernian	30	11	11	8	45	41	4	44
4	AberdeenAberdeen	30	12	7	11	38	46	-8	43
5	Dundee UtdDundee Utd	30	11	8	11	38	40	-2	41

The heat of the rivalry may have cooled a bit over the years given how far Gers plummeted and how far ahead the Hoops are on and off the pitch. But back in 2002 it was at its peak with both clubs fighting and scrapping for every point in what was a razor-thin difference.

In one particular fixture in the CIS Cup, Gers managed a late win over Martin O’Neill’s outfit at Hampden Park and, on co-commentary duties for STV at the time, Andy Walker handed the man of the match award to the current interim head coach at Ibrox.

• READ MORE: The key Celtic decisions Brendan Rodgers must make in aftermath of Rangers loss

Walker says Paul McStay backed his Celtic vs Rangers call

That, he tells Let Me Be Frank podcast, earned him “dog’s abuse” from the Celtic support. But a fellow ex-Parkhead star – the Maestro Paul McStay, backed the former striker in a chance meeting a few days later. And that taught the now-59-year-old to take every bit of abuse with a pinch of salt.

“I was doing a Celtic/Rangers game for STV with Archie MacPherson and Rangers won. Bert Konterman scored a brilliant goal,” Walker recalls.

“My job as co-commentator was to give man of the match, so I gave it to Barry Ferguson. I got absolute dog’s abuse because of that.

“I remember meeting Paul McStay a few days later and he said, ‘Andy you were dead right. Barry ran the show that night, was the best on the park.’

“For that to come from Paul who knows a thing or two about playing in the middle of the park, I thought you have to take these things. And sometimes you can be bit too sensitive to it. Believe me, I haven’t been for a long time.”

Celtic’s record vs Rangers in Glasgow derby history

Celtic and Rangers have only grown apart since the glory days of the rivalry for some supporters back in early 2000s.

The Glasgow derby record makes for incredible reading with both sides almost bang on the same number of wins and losses throughout history.

The trophy haul between both clubs has also been baffling to think about with Celtic just taking over Rangers in recent months thanks to their Premier Sports Cup victory back in December.

Brendan Rodgers’ personal record vs Rangers is also impressive if we take the most recent two fixtures out of the equation. Even with them, the Irishman still reins supreme.