6 min: Celtic break on their right wing now, and Borna Barišić produces a good sliding tackle to snuff out the attack. Scott Brown tries again with a ball thumped over the top into space behind the Rangers backline. Odsonne Edouard tries to get on the end of it, but Allan McGregor anticipates the danger and comes off his line to collect.
4 min: It’s a suitably frenetic start, with both sides looking to attack at pace, as soon as they win the ball. Nathan Patterson makes a strong run for Rangers, to the byline on the right, and cuts the ball back well, but Celtic manage to clear the danger.
Celtic get us under way. Rangers win the ball, and there is immediately a crunching tackle flying in from Ryan Christie, near halfway. The first of many, no doubt.
A minute’s silence for the late HRH Duke of Edinburgh, and now we’re ready to go.
Just the four pundits for Premier Sports this afternoon, including Strachan and Hartson, but the time for talking is now over. Celtic’s players have just jogged out on to the pitch, and now here come Rangers ...
Over in the Premier League, Fulham lead Arsenal by a goal to nil. Rob Smyth has the latest here:
Last week’s sorry story here about the Czech government figure who hit out at Ondrej Kudela’s racism ban, following Rangers’ controversial exit from Europe:
Rangers: McGregor, Patterson, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Aribo, Davis, Kamara, Morelos, Arfield, Kent. Subs: Tavernier, Bassey, Simpson, Hagi, Itten, Zungu, Wright, Roofe, McLaughlin.
Celtic: Bain, Kenny, Welsh, Ajer, Christie, Turnbull, Brown, McGregor, Laxalt, Edouard, Elyounoussi. Subs: Barkas, Taylor, Bitton, Griffiths, Ajeti, Soro, Rogic, Montgomery, Ralston.
Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland)
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers may have won the Scottish Premiership, and in some style, but Celtic could deny them the chance of a league and cup double with victory in this afternoon’s Scottish Cup fourth-round encounter.
This match represents Celtic’s last chance of a trophy this season, but to stay in with a chance of retaining the Cup, they will need to bring an end to Rangers’ 100% record at Ibrox this season. Since Neil Lennon departed in February, Celtic’s results have been noticeably more encouraging, with a 6-0 win at Livingston last time out continuing John Kennedy’s unbeaten start as interim manager. A Scottish Cup quarter-final meeting against St Johnstone is on offer for today’s winner, but as always with Old Firm derbies, that is only part of the story. I’ll have team news and pre-match reading coming right up.
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