Tom Boyd wants to see a return of bumper away crowds at derby matches.
The Celtic hero was at Parkhead last weekend as Ange Postecoglou's men defeated arch rivals Rangers 3-2 to move 12 points clear at the Premiership summit and edge one step closer to making it back to back league crowns. The Light Blues supporters were locked out of the clash as the ticket war rumbles on, with the Hoops set to face a similar scenario when they head for Ibrox in the league split.
Boyd says there was a great atmosphere in Glasgow's east end but admits it is NOT the same as having a large band of travelling fans. He sensed a 'nervousness' at times amongst the home support and if a goal is conceded the place just goes completely silent. That is not the case when two sets of fans are going at it with a constant wall of noise.
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He said: “We want to get back to the way it was with 7500 fans at each ground. The Celtic fans produced a great atmosphere at the weekend, but it’s not the same.
“There was some nervousness at times and you could sense it. It’s really strange when there is a goal against you, the place is silent.
“You don’t get any quiet periods when there are two sets of fans going back and forth. I don’t know how the situation gets resolved, but I just hope it’s not here to stay.”
Michael Beale and Postecoglou will go head to head for a FOURTH time already since the arrival of the new man at Ibrox when the sides meet at Hampden in a fortnight.
The Scottish Cup semi-final - like the League Cup showpiece earlier this year - will be a 50/50 split of fans with a place in the end of season finale up for grabs to the winner.
Victory would make the team progressing to the final heavy favourites to lift the famous old trophy with Falkirk or Inverness the other last four tie.
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