TOMMY COYNE savoured the moments when he silenced the Rangers fans in the Old Firm encounters.

But the former Celtic striker is disappointed Neil Lennon’s players won’t get the chance to experience the famous fixture at its best.

The first derby clash of the campaign this weekend will be the third at Ibrox with just 800 away fans in the stadium. When Steven Gerrard takes his side to Parkhead, the same arrangements will be in place after a change in allocations last term.

For Coyne, it is an unwelcome development in the historic derby.

He said: “Hopefully it goes Celtic’s way. Rangers will be looking to put a marker down by winning the first Old Firm game. But I just think the fact only 800 Celtic fans will be there just kills the occasion.

“It will be the same when Rangers go to Celtic Park the next time. It changes the whole game entirely. If any Celtic player scores and there is only 800 fans cheering...it takes away a bit of pleasure.

“It will be the same for any Rangers player scoring at Celtic Park.

“My Old Firm memories are fantastic - when we won. I scored a couple of goals for Celtic against Rangers but one would have been enough.

“To score a winner in the Old Firm game was like nothing on earth.

“That was the one [in 1990] when Bomber (John Brown) tried to kick me - but he was ten yards behind me when I scored. I was in the right place at the right time. Six yards was my area. That was in the old days when behind the goal at Celtic Park was all Rangers fans.

“It was a special moment for me. It’s definitely the best feeling as I grew up dreaming of that. It’s the best feeling ever. When I scored in the cup game, the stand behind the goal was full of Rangers fans from side to side, 15,000 or more. Just to score and for that end to be pure silent was like nothing any other game gives you.

“When you score an Old Firm goal then you join a select club and I was very fortunate to get that.”

The Old Firm wins stand out in Coyne’s Celtic career. He lived the dream at Parkhead, but encountered a dominant Rangers side.

These days, it is Celtic that are racking up the title wins but hopes are high at Ibrox that Steven Gerrard’s side can stop the Hoops at eight.

Coyne said: “This would be most certainly a chance for Celtic to again lay down the superiority which Celtic have had over the last eight years or more. There is a lot of pressure on Rangers as the fans are expecting them to go out and keep their good start to the season going. I think Celtic will be too strong.

“Rangers have definitely improved under their manager. He obviously has lots of contacts and things so he’s bringing in better players for Rangers.

“But it comes down to the consistency that Celtic have had over the last umpteen seasons and whether Rangers can keep up with Celtic. In my heart I believe Celtic will maintain that same level of consistency and do Rangers have that? We won’t know that until the season continues.”

The Old Firm go into the derby clash with three wins each in the Premiership but the pressure is on both bosses to deliver a result.

For Parkhead gaffer Lennon, this could be a huge weekend.

Coyne said: “I think the criticism Neil’s had to take has been disgraceful. I believe he was totally the man for the job.

“I believe he had the club at his heart and he’s a winner. I don’t think you could have picked anyone else to come into the club and do that job that he’s doing. I’m sure he will go on and win the title.

“I think the fans look to the manager to show the passion from the side as you have seen from Celtic managers of the past and he’s definitely of that calibre.

“When you play for Celtic you are expected to win every game no matter who you play but losing to Cluj was a big disappointment but if Celtic had lost to Barcelona there would still have been a lot of fans expecting Celtic to win as well.”