Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
‘Earned the right’: Pundit says Rangers deserve controversial Celtic gesture
For weeks, the date of March 21st has stuck out on the Scottish football calendar.
With Rangers having amassed a sizeable lead at the top of the Premiership, the season’s third meeting between Steven Gerrard’s side and Celtic was set to provide one of two possible major talking points.
The first was Rangers potentially being crowned champions at the home of their rivals, but with Celtic’s failure to score against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday ensuring that the title race is officially over that’s no longer a possibility.
The second, however, is still very much on the table. The talking point in question is a potential guard of honour from the home side at Celtic Park on the 21st.
We can expect much of the next 12 days to be taken up with debate as to whether or not John Kennedy’s men should perform the gesture, and it will be surprising if many of the home team’s fans have the stomach for it.
One Celtic supporter, however, believes Rangers have “earned the right” to be welcomed on in such a manner.
Former Scotland international Chris Iwelumo says he would be surprised if Celtic performed the gesture, but believes Gerrard’s players are entitled to it.
Speaking on , he said: “The next one, an Old Firm match, you talk about a guard of honour.
“I think it’s optional. I would be very surprised if Celtic do clap them in. I don’t think it will happen.
“It’s a bit of class, you know. I’m a Celtic fan. At the end of the day, Rangers have been the better team.
“They have earned the right to have that respect shown.”
Despite his allegiances, Iwelumo was fulsome in his praise for Gerrard and his team’s achievement, saying: “There are so many pressures on both teams, Celtic and Rangers. It was a massive season but he’s delivered.
“The players have learned, he’s recruited quality. He’s man-managed them fantastically well. He’s given them a belief to go out and do exactly what they have done, you know.
“They manage games well. They don’t always play fantastically but they get the result. They go out to do it. They know how to get over the line and it’s warranted.
“Can they go unbeaten now, for the rest of the season? Can they do that, the Invincibles? It’s going to be an interesting ask.
“That’s how he motivates the team to carry on doing it no matter if they have got the Premiership trophy. They have got to keep going.”