Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has partly blamed referee decisions for his side’s last defeat to Celtic.
The Liverpool legend made the comments after the Gers’ narrow victory at home to Kilmarnock.
Gerrards men may have been the better side, which he acknowledges, but the referee played little part in the loss.
The words are nothing more than mind games towards Sunday’s official Kevin Clancy.
Steven Gerrard on last Celtic and Rangers match officiating
Rangers played perhaps the best they have since promotion from the Scottish Championship in the final.
Chance after chance went by the wayside against a patched up Celtic side with no direction.
It only took one big chance for Christopher Jullien to make the difference in the match for the Hoops.
Jeremie Frimpong was sent off and Alfredo Morelos had another brain fart against Celtic from 12 yards.
However, Gerrard is quick to get in the referee’s mind this time round, for no real reason.
He told the Rangers website: “We dominated the majority of the game, but unfortunately, the big moments on the day didn’t go our way.
“Hopefully we can find the same level of performance but, hopefully the big calls and the big moments go our way for a change.”
Gers will try every move in the book on Sunday
This is only the beginning of the game plan for the next few days by Gerrard and co.
They will still be hurting from what they will take as a smash and grab robbery of the League Cup final.
Despite Gerrards words, his side did get the big moments and the calls didn’t play a part in the result at all.
Gerrard and the Gers side will know that the Hoops have a whole host of players back fit than the last match.
The tactics and player positioning needs to be right on Neil Lennon side, but the Hoops are stronger.
Furthermore, the league leaders have the home advantage and the Gers haven’t won at Parkhead in many years.
Everything is now against Rangers compared to the cup final where they had a bit of an advantage.
Hopefully, the Hoops don’t stoop to their level and treat the game with the respect it deserves.
On paper, it should be a comfortable walk over, but Gerrard and Rangers will try to make sure it isn’t by any means possible.
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