Rangers’ matchwinner Connor Goldson has claimed that he and his Ibrox teammates didn’t believe that the leaked Celtic teamsheet would take to the field against Rangers.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has been in the press complaining about a “mole” who released the line-up to someone outside the club before it reached the press prior to the match.
But speaking to talkSPORT, Goldson admitted that the team was that all over the place that the defender and his teammates didn’t believe it was true.
The Ibrox defender – who netted both goals in the 2-0 win at Celtic Park – admitted that Rangers were planning for Odsonne Edouard and Christopher Julien both playing.
The defender also claimed that a friend from down south confirmed that Celtic rookie Stephen Welsh was playing before the match.
“We never. Even in our pre-match meeting, we thought Edouard would play and we thought Jullien would play,” said Goldson.
“A few of us seen the team but we didn’t really believe it. We know that in an Old Firm you can never trust anything that comes out.
“One day someone is injured and the next they’re playing. Listen, every player wants to play in an Old Firm.
“Whether they are injured or not they’ll try and get through it, so we went into the game thinking Jullien and Edouard would play.
“Truthfully, I got on a coach and I had a message from one of my best mates down south who plays for Doncaster and he said Welsh was playing and Edouard isn’t playing.
“I said ‘Yeah good one, we’ll see when we get there’. Obviously when we got there, the team was true but I don’t know how he knew playing down south but he was the only person who text me.”
It was Goldson’s day at Celtic Park and the match will forever be remembered for the big defender’s double but there is still much work to be done before the team tastes real success this season.
Goldson is determined to see this good form continue and whilst he admitted there was a sense of celebration in the changing room he urged his teammates to put together a strong run.
“It was a happy changing room. Obviously Old Firm days there is a bit of pressure on them; it’s more of a relief after winning the game,” said Goldson.
“I had to leave the changing room for media so I didn’t get to see much of it. Everyone was happy and we got the result we wanted to.
“It shows where we are and where we want to get to. We’ve won Old Firms in both years so far but we haven’t backed it up with a run of winning games.
“There are some big games coming up. The European games come up now and we have to make sure we put together a good run.”
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