As Rangers hope to gear up for a very Merry Christmas, Santa has proven himself a bluenose after a tumultuous week at Celtic.
At half-time in Rangers’ eventual 2-0 victory over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership, Father Christmas himself made an appearance with the League Cup at halftime.
Hoisting the trophy – won in the weekend’s 1-0 win over Aberdeen at the weekend – high above his head, Santa earned a rapturous response from the Ibrox crowd.
Not least because only a few days previously was the big man being peppered with boos at Celtic Park.
Rangers goad Celtic with Santa appearance
Rangers and Celtic are never shy of baiting each other for a reaction but as far as Scottish fitba patter goes, this is elite.
Especially amid the sour ticketing fiasco going on in the background of the Old Firm duopoly.
There will be no Rangers fans at Celtic Park on December 30th with the row over ticket allocations showing no signs of being settled.
Rangers of course will be hoping the mockery doesn’t come back to bite them with a long season ahead and plenty of injuries at Ibrox.
Manager Philippe Clement was left “boiling” after a shocking red-card challenge led to a potentially serious injury for another key player in the squad in John Lundstram.
The appearance of Santa on the Ibrox Park certainly cut the mood in Glasgow but the Rangers manager was in a frustrated place come the final whistle.
Ibrox fans hoping for Merry Christmas
Rangers fans are coming off the back of a glorious week at the club and will be hoping to celebrate with Santa as they gear up for a very Merry Christmas indeed.
Having qualified for the Europa League last 16, lifted the League Cup, and cut the lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to two points (with a game in hand) there’s one more game before the big man comes.
Rangers are set to visit Motherwell on Christmas Eve and should the club secure victory in the clash over the weekend it’ll set them up very nicely for the pre-winter break run-in.
Rangers also host Ross County and Kilmarnock before the league breaks in January, with a blockbuster visit to Celtic Park in between.
