Not many stats back Rangers this Sunday, but there is one that suggests they can beat Celtic at Parkhead.
Steven Gerrard’s men come into the game on the back of a huge morale-boosting result in Russia. The Gers knocked out FC Ufa to reach the group stages of the Europa League. It’s the first time Rangers have been in European group stage competition since 2010.
Attention, however, now moves swiftly onto the trip to Parkhead on Sunday.
Many won’t give Rangers too much of a chance. Recent history in this fixture isn’t something work looking at. However, there is one big stat that shows not all omens are bad heading to the East End of Glasgow.
Gerrard could become part of a rather common club on Sunday if he avoids defeat. Interestingly, is he doesn’t lose at Celtic Park, he will be the fifth manager out of the last six to be undefeated in their first Old Firm game.
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The only manager who has suffered defeat since Paul Le Guen was Pedro Caixinha. The Portuguese managed to lose 2-0 to Brendan Rodgers’ side in the Scottish Cup semi-final of 2017.
However, Walter Smith, Ally McCoist, and Mark Warburton all managed victories in their first Old Firm matches. Smith’s was a fantastic 1-0 win at Parkhead back in 2007. McCoist’s Rangers hammered Neil Lennon’s Celtic 4-2 at Ibrox in 2011, whilst Warburton’s Championship side knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup in 2016.
Graeme Murty was the only one of the last five to draw his first ever Old Firm match. An impressive 0-0 draw at Celtic Park in March 2017 was a terrific result at the time.
In terms of Old Firm debuts, Gerrard can certainly take inspiration from recent managers. With the exception of the eccentric Caixinha, Celtic have struggled to get results over new Rangers gaffers in the past.
Avoiding defeat would continue that run and be yet another feather in the Liverpool legend’s cap, as he continues to make more records at Rangers.