Blood, thunder and lashings of controversy. Three ingredients which made Aberdeen-Rangers clashes blockbuster viewing up until last season.
But anyone who thought the four meek meetings between the sides in the last campaign were a sign the old rivalry had died has had those fears well and truly torpedoed by two ripsnorters this time round.
The catalyst? The addition of Scott Brown to the mix has certainly helped.
The Aberdeen skipper got right up blue noses at Ibrox with his celebrations after netting in the first encounter at Ibrox and he was at it again as he waved Ryan Kent off after sucking the Rangers winger into a red card challenge late on in Tuesday’s draw at Pittodrie.
No surprise then that Brown and referee Kevin Clancy were in the firing line for furious Rangers fans on the Hotline .
Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, said: “How can Brown keep getting away with his nonsense? He rolls about the ground and when the player is booked, he’s up laughing at a fellow professional. I find what he does disgusting.”
Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, blasted: “I can't believe Brown, Johnny Hayes and Kevin Clancy have not been pulled up by the compliance officer. Brown not only feigned injury to get Kent sent off but Clancy let him away with his gestures afterwards even though he was already booked. The laugh and joke between the two at the final whistle also tells its own story. Hayes has two bites of the cherry trying to injure Barasic and when he succeeds neither Clancy nor his assistant who was right beside the incident acted.”
Andy Adams, Kirkcaldy, said: "Everyone knows Aberdeen raise their game when they play Rangers, their fans demand it. It was a banana skin without our full team but we're still four points in front. As for Brown's antics, who's surprised? I've absolutely no doubt our rivals will ask for a postponement on February 2, if they have three or more players on international duty, whether it's approved is another question, but I suspect it will be, therefore throwing the SPFL into utter confusion, so what's new?”
But Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “Comedy gold listening to Rangers fans complaining about a ref and the usual ‘they only try against us’. None of them mention the penalty Aberdeen should’ve had in the first half of course. Every point dropped is always someone else’s fault and never the fact they never played well enough to win the game.”
And Aberdeen fan Alan McPherson, Cullen, argued: “As a diehard Dons fan of over 60 years you would think I would have got used to dodgy refereeing decisions against us when we play Rangers. The penalty against us at Ibrox was bad enough but the refusal of as blatant a spot kick as you will see on Tuesday was just another example of incompetence by our officials when the Old Firm are involved, especially Rangers. We need VAR BUT I have absolutely no confidence in the ability of our officials to operate it.”
Rangers fans fear their side are lacking depth and with Alfredo Morelos set to miss the Old Firm after his Colombia recall some want Gio van Bronckhorst to dip back into the January transfer market.
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “Of course it’ll be difficult without Morelos for the derby but Rangers need to sign at least another goalscoring forward – that's been obvious to fans. Even with Morelos back to some form he's not getting the numbers he used to. I still think Lawrence Shankland is the right man for Rangers, he's strong, always a threat in the air, a proven goalscorer and made a mistake going to Belgium.”
Colin Hall, Carrickfergus, said: “As a Bluenose I watched the game on Tuesday on tenterhooks. Apart from a well taken goal we hadn't much else to offer and are badly missing Davis and Aribo as our midfield could control nothing, most of our passing was poor and we are going to get caught out in the future with our sloppy playing out from the back.”
Finally, Ronnie Swan, Lochee, is a disgruntled Dundee United fan after watching his side lose a sixth game on the bounce. He said: “I thought for one horrible moment Csaba Laszlo had returned to Tannadice.
"Step forward the bold Tam Courts .. ‘I’m getting closer to getting to know the players in form, some great chemistry on the pitch, Watt started on the bench because I wasn't sure the deal was done’ - you couldn't make it up. SOS Craig Levein.”
