Steven Smith was quoted a few weeks back as claiming that the Rangers players were dreading the impending Old Firm game.

 

I am not sure whether or not his comments were taken out of context, and I imagine that he probably said it with his tongue very much in his cheek.

This is a different scenario from anything that we have ever been used to because of what has happened in the last three years.

What has happened in many ways has been unimaginable - and Celtic are going into the game very firmly on top.

It isn't even how much Rangers are in disarray on the park that is so destabilising, but the circus that has gone on off it.

So Celtic have the upper hand in a way that they never have had before.

But with that comes a responsibility off the pitch. The police have already been to all four semi-finalists to explain the necessity of keeping a lid on things.

It is very easy to be swept up in the heat of the game and passions and tensions do, inevitably, run high.

It can affect everyone involved, but you would like to think that it will pass off peacefully.

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