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As a guy at the wrong end of my forties I'm aware that criticising the behaviour of younger guys at the football is in danger of making me sound like a letter writer to the Daily Mail. Truth is I'm not sure I fully 'get' Ultra culture. I 'get' singing at the matches, all match long if possible, I think all of us go through that phase in our teens. When I was younger if you wanted a sing-song you went to the East Enclosure or the Copland Road, and if you didn't you went to the Govan or the Main Stand, it was easier to choose 'what kind' of supporter you wanted to be back then. Back then, the 80s, there was violence at matches, some of it organised and some of it spontaneous, and for some guys that was as important a part of the match experience for them as buying a programme or having a pint after the game is to others. I was at school with guys who were 'ICF' and a few who were Thistle casuals too. You know those guys went to every match, home and away, and from time to time I bump into them again and some still do, but they don't meet in train stations and get into fights anymore. They grew up, they got married, they had kids, they used up all the extra testosterone that flowed through us when we were 17. Thing is other supporters would get angry with them. Often with justification. They looked for trouble and sometimes people minding their own business got caught up in it, they got us a bad press, the club helped the police try and single the ring leaders out. So are these guys the current day equivalent? Young guys with too much time, energy and testosterone? Before the casuals in the 80s there were gangs of skinheads, before that guys with Union Jacks draped over their backs, long hair and flairs, I'm sure their were Mods or Rockers or whatever before that. Bloody hell, The Billy boys were a razor gang who sang at the football to let everyone know they'd crossed the city from Bridgeton to Govan. So I don't want to get too pious when I criticise these 'Ultras'. The flyer was stupid, the banner is asking for trouble and the balaclavas invite people to misconstrue who they are and what they're about. Young men do stupid things when they are young. I suspect a number of these guys might be a bit embarrassed in 15 years time when they look back at this. In the end the club can't be seen to condone the flyer or the banner. I don't condone it, it's a stupid use of language and a disturbing use of imagery. But it's not aimed at me, I'm old, and responsible and have zero interest in trouble or, frankly, even singing these days. I think these guys are fans, real fans, I think they are misguided in some of what they do and deserve criticised for it, but I think we also need to be careful we don't give this more significance than it deserves. It's the 'young team' at the football, same as it always was, indeed considerably smaller than it was in my day.

I've watched a couple of videos from the march, and have to say I find it completely embarrassing. Do folk honestly think that this is acceptable behaviour??? If this happened on any other day (outwith a football context), folk would (rightly) be up in arms, and it would have been shut down by the police. But since it's football/Rangers related, it is suddenly ok (in many folks eyes) for a LARGE group, many masked or hiding their faces, letting off smoke bombs and flares, presenting a banner which could incite hatred/riot, to march down the street, singing banned songs. How does this kind of behaviour show support for the football team??? All it does is supports & encourages the darker elements associated with the club ie. sectarianism - something that the Club itself has been working to eradicate. IMHO, the Club should be doing everything it can to distance itself from these actions.

I was too annoyed to post yesterday, in some ways that defeat hurt more than the real doings we got last season. Having slept on it I'm a bit more rational about it now. For me experience won the day. They'd lots of it and we only had it in patches. Three Glasgow derby debutants, a very inexperienced central midfield, and a defence that showed a lot of uncertainty when put under pressure. A more experienced side would have taken control when we went 2-1 up. A more experienced side would have disrupted play with little fouls, slowed it down and kept possession, instead we allowed them to step up and dictate the match. Might it have been different if Jack, Dorrans, Russell and Wallace had been fit, maybe. Certainly I felt we were naive at times, particularly when they ran at us. Their first and third goals were poor to lose. They were well taken but neither player should have been given that time and space in the first place. They gifted us the first and deservedly went down to 10 men, we should have been good enough to take something from the match. The real test of Murty and this side now is how they react to this. They must be gutted, they'll know what a great chance they just passed up. If they can lift themselves for the next couple of games, and put this behind them quickly then they've got a chance to become the team they need to be, if this starts a slump then I'm afraid changes are needed. I hope Murty can regroup and lift them because we're not that far behind.

You can certainly criticise the media for its focus on certain events over others, but the reaction from Rangers fans (including me) to this is perfectly sensible. Firstly, what other groups from other teams is less of a concern to me because they're not associated with my club. I don't like my club being negatively affected at all, and when it's done by our own fans it's so much more disappointing. Just because others do it worse than use doesn't mean it's ok. That's a ridiculous argument. Not a single Rangers fan thinks that the flyer is worse than someone being attacked. The difference is that we (as Rangers fans) could have prevented the former. It was a stupid own goal we scored and totally unnecessary. If that March was simply about singing songs in favour of the team, why that logo, or covering if their faces? It was sinister and stupid. However, I've already said the attacks on our players, staff and supporters is worse. There's no doubt about that, but it still won't stop me voicing my opinion about our own behaviour. It'll be a sad day when I start measuring our behaviour in relative terms to 'theirs'. I think we're much better than that, don't you?

On the contrary, if I had been told before yesterday's game that we could win only once against Celtic this season, I would have gone for a win in the Scottish cup. It's by far our best chance of a trophy this season

The March should never have been organised in the manner in which it was with the wording and imagery contained within it. As a Rangers supporter, I do not wish to be associated with that sort of thing.

While I agree with you, the next game v Killie is the most important one! this will be extremely tough and a must win game, the game against them in the semi will take care of itself.

I seriously believe you're so far out of touch with reality and standards acceptable public behaviour you're part of the problem. Are you so far out of touch with reality you don't grasp that a section of our 'support' and I use that term loosely deliberately hiding faces while 'marching' through public streets aggresively chanting in para military style 'uniform' is unacceptable.? It paints the club in a very bad light indeed while you totally ignore that and further try to excuse it by rambling on with a dose of entirely unconnected whataboutery regarding an MP? I don't give a flying fuck about the MP he doesn't represent Rangers and that's what we're talking about here.

...and will do more "damage" to them by preventing back-to-back trebles.

Bitter disappointment is the overriding feeling this morning, along with a real sense that we let our opposition off the hook again. https://fourladshadadream.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/monday-morning-regrets-and-a-touch-of-reality/

A few thoughts on this one. Firstly it's the first time in a while that I've had any level of optimism going into a game with them and that's a sign of progress that we've made. We're still behind them, can't match their financial clout and there is a gulf in class and quality. The mangerial situation between the two clubs is evidnece of this. We have Murty, doing a great job and I'm a fan of his, who has no previous mangaerial experience, and with the exception of a few international caps his main playing experience was with York City (my home team!), by contrast Celtic have a manger with Premier League credentials. There is a vast difference still between the two clubs, but it's narrowing and the players have the confidence to go for it. Had it not been for a cruel miss at the end, we'd have taken a draw from this one. It also occurs to me that, although we did put 2 goals past them, it was against their 3rd choice keeper, given the nature of the goals I don't think it would have mattered much who was in goal, but the organisation of the defence under Gordon or De Vries. Overall, it was a big statement of how far we've come, but was a bridge to far just now. It does suggest, however, that a realistic title challenge next year is the expectation. That's possibly a year or two ahead of where I thought we might be. They'll get number 7 this year, but we should be in a strong fight to prevent number 8 or number 9...

Hasn't been given any realistic game time but good luck to him if and when he goes.

If we had Martin and either Bates or McCrorie at the back I feel it would have been a different result. I don’t think anyone was happy with Cardozo on the pitch. We played fantastic for the first 25 mins. The goal aside they sat back for the last half hour.

We just need defenders who can do their job of defending a lead to give away the upper hand twice was disappointing but we have greatly improved since the last two managers give young Murty the chance and it will be fine again ,don't panic .

We are so close to beating them, so why now look for wholesale changes? That doesn't make sense to me. Murty could and should have made changes yesterday when we went a man up,, but let's be clear about this, that team should have beat them yesterday, even without any subs. We played really well in spells and only allowed Celtic to play when we stopped doing what we've been doing so well. We don't need to change much at all, and certainly not the formation/tactics. One strong signing for centreback and a number 10 is all we need to beat them, and I'd suggest we can do it comfortably if we keep progressing the way we have been. Lets not talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water now. We are so close to the tipping point.

My overriding feeling is one of deep regret too, they were there for the taking and we blew it. Being honest they took their chances really well , but we let them get comfortable even with being down to ten men. It was a great game, usual derby fair, but small mistakes can kill you , Several things stood out for me, we let them dominate the ball for long spells, that seems to spell a disaster in the making for us, we missed some sitters, never good thing at this level. Murty dithered when Rodgers was decisive. The game changed when they went down to ten men, we done nothing to capitalise on that game changer, when Murty made the change to bolster his striker options it looked too little too late. I could hear myself shouting in my sleep last night ''Get Cummings on ffs'' Experience with tactical awareness at vital times and some composure in front of goal would have won us that game. Experience will come with time, composure will come with experience, tactical awareness will have to be learned, but do have we the luxury and patience to allow this time?

I know what they’re protesting about, I just think they should do it off the pitch and show some respect for the game and their opponents.

Morelos is 21, currently top scorer in the league with huge potential to improve as with any young player, yet Rangers fans want him out!!, pathetic!

OMG, between people fighting in the streets of the Gallowgate and people marching on the streets of Kinning Park all on the same day - what is a person to think about Glasgow? Almost unprecedented ...

Fighting to decide who was the bigger tim, Jimmy Savile or Gary Glitter.

It’s Tim on Tim, hence why the folk in the car are laughing.

nah....just that arseholes have given the club bad publicity

probably...and unfortunately it will be based on fact - there's pictures & video to back him up. Compare this march to the one several years ago to Hampden - how many folk then had their faces covered??? How many smoke bombs or flares were set off??? What there any imagery to "promote" violent behaviour??? No there wasn't, it atmosphere was peaceful, relaxed and family friendly. How would you react or think if you saw a march like this coming towards you on the street???

He has no composure, umpteen times he has been clean through and missed. Time will tell if he improves that part of his game. When Cummings came on yesterday his link up and 1st touch were both miles better than Morelos had delivered during the match. Cummings should start against Celtic.

This is what annoys me so much now. I am fine with spending resources on clamping down on abusive or sectarian language. I've always thought this was too tough to deal with sensibly and in a balanced fashion, but I at least understood the sentiment behind it. What I am astonished at however is that this has become worse than other 'crimes'. When the 'flyer' was originally posted on line, almost everyone in authority jumped on the language used. Almost no one focussed on the logo showing fans kicking their fans, which would potentially be inciting violence (not saying that was its intention, but merely pointing out it could have been). We then have fans running onto the pitch at the cup final, assaulting players and officials and then the focus being on the songs being sung. And now we have police unwilling to invest much time and effort on a potentially lethal assault with smoke bombs. What the hell is wrong with our country these days?!?

Give him a look from the bench for first half.

I find it strange that there is no news of any arrests for this but I have no doubt Glasgow police will swoop if someone was to sing a naughty song .

GREAT ADVERT Rangers fans might not have liked losing to Celtic but this Old Firm clash was BRILLIANT for Scottish football says Jim Duffy Scottish football's moneymakers are set to open talks over a new TV deal for our game and they should be taking a DVD of Sunday's match into the meetings. SCOTTISH football’s moneymakers are set to start talks about a new domestic TV deal. Here’s my advice. Take a DVD of Sunday’s Old Firm game, put it in front of TV company execs and say: ‘Fancy some of that?’ I know Rangers supporters won’t see it this way. But the Ibrox game was a BRILLIANT advert for Scottish football. In terms of product, it was as good as it gets. It didn’t let up from the first minute to the last — quite literally. At the start you’d Josh Windass punishing slack Celtic defending to put his side in front. At the end you’d stand-in Celtic keeper Scott Bain making a great save to deny the home side an equaliser, then Alfredo Morelos blew his chance from the rebound. You can choose your own adjective for what went on between times — breathtaking, exhilarating, fantastic. But whatever one you pick, the game had the ‘Wow Factor’. In terms of promoting the product we have, it was as good as it gets — there were sensational goals and atrocious defending, action, saves, chances, a debutant goalkeeper, a key player stretchered off, a red card. The atmosphere was electric. Put it this way. If you were sitting on your sofa the game that came on after Rangers v Celtic was Arsenal v Watford. That’s a Premier League game, a London derby, with multi-million-pound players on show. The Emirates was only three-quarters full, there wasn’t much atmosphere and there was little tempo to the game. TV companies can dress it up any way they like. But it wasn’t a patch on the 90 minutes that had gone before it. Now I know not every game shown live on Scottish TV is like the Old Firm. The next Old Firm game might be a poor spectacle. But this is the time to strike while the iron’s hot. If that Old Firm game had been an English Premier League match, the pundits would be RAVING about it — and quite rightly so. That’s why I think discussions about a new TV deal in Scotland should go well. Because no TV company in their right mind wouldn’t want a bit of that kind of action. So in their way, both Glasgow teams might have helped the rest of Scottish football! There will have been plenty of discussion in both ends of Glasgow about the key moments of the game. But for those of us who didn’t have any vested interest in who won, it was just tremendous entertainment. Rangers will be understandably devastated, and Celtic elated, after the way the game panned out. In any game where there are a lot of goals, there’s inevitably going to be poor defending and the sides had a howler apiece. Josh Windass took his goal really well but it was down to Dedryck Boyata’s basic mistake and for most of the afternoon he looked well off the pace, which was understandable considering he’d been out for five weeks. However I thought the pivotal moment of the afternoon was Celtic’s equaliser just before the break. If Rangers had gone in 2-1 up the stadium would’ve been bouncing but as it was, it seemed to knock the stuffing out of them. It was such a bad goal to lose. For Moussa Dembele to get in between two central defenders and get on the end of a 60-yard ball up the park was just criminal. My suspicion is that if David Bates had been on the pitch, it might not have happened. Bates has a lot to learn but he gets about the grass quite well and I think he might have dealt with the long ball better. The big second-half talking point was Jozo Simunovic’s red card. I thought Willie Collum handled the game really well and got the decision right. Simunovic had a glance at Morelos and, although there wasn’t huge contact between his elbow and the Colombian’s face, there doesn’t have to be. For me, it warranted a red. I think the most telling aspect of it was that the Celtic defender didn’t question the decision. He looked sheepish going off and so he should have, because he’d made a massive mistake which could have cost his team. As it turned out, the arrival of Odsonne Edouard and his good finish ensured Celtic opened up a nine-point lead at the top with a game in hand. That, of course, means the league’s won. For that not to be the case, Celtic would have to lose three games, maybe four, and Rangers would need to win every one of theirs. That’s not going to happen. But credit to Graeme Murty. When he took over I couldn’t see them finishing second. I thought Aberdeen or Hibs would. Now I can see them ending as runners-up and that represents a significant improvement for them. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2347791/rangers-celtic-brilliant-scottish-football-jim-duffy/

Oh well. the White Elephant it is. Better get a decent team on the park, then......

On further reflection, I take a lot more positives than negatives from today, certainly a lot more than some on here. Perhaps expectations have a lot to do with that but for the first time in years I've no doubt we are capable of competing with Celtic. I also think everyone who saw the game, whatever their allegiance, realises that a shift has taken place in the balance of power. We're no longer lambs to the slaughter. Brenda certainly knows it, which is why he's become so openly mouthy in regard to Rangers. Perhaps our biggest remaining disadvantage is having so many players who have yet to taste success and believe they can repeat it. That will come.

After a few hours calming down time, it now seems the right time to post. I was raging with Morelos for not taking his chances and another sitter that seemed easier to score. However, I think it’s unfair to make him the scapegoat today. It was really our failure to stop them from scoring what were 3 poorly conceded goals that cost us today. We simply cannot afford to lose 3 goals and expect our front men to score more to save us from losing. Fod, again, struggled to cope with shots from distance, Cardoso was like a lamb to the slaughter and Alves still doesn’t convince me. I think Murty should have changed it up quicker than he did. Holt would have made a difference in the middle, especially when it was evident that Goss was not in the game today. I’d also have been tempted to bring the wise and experienced Kenny on in place of Josh when they went down to 10 men. So, yeah not Alfie’s best day, but certainly can’t let him shoulder the blame for th defeat today. Hopefully, he’ll put in behind him quickly. Anyway, this was only a dress rehearsal for the Semi-Final - that was always going to be the more important game, stopping their double treble. Hope Murty and the team learn from today - I think Murty’s future relies on it.

It’s frustrating. He causes so many problems for defences and puts himself about so much, more than Cummings but he does so many things that cost us. Straying offside while looking along the line for a pass that would put him 1 on 1 with the keeper (Celtic go up the park and score). Missing a 1 on 1 with the keeper (Celtic go up the park and score), and missing a open goal from 3/4 yards. These three pieces of play cost us the match. I have no doubt in my mind that Cummings would have stayed onside for the first and scored the second and third chances but he doesn’t give you the same physicality and hold up play. I do think he should be dropped after today and give Cummings a few games up top to see what he gives.

I believe that Bates would have prevented the 2nd too. But also felt he had some responsibility for the first as think he should have closed Rogic down a bit quicker given Rogic had no passing options and was always likely to have to shoot. havent seen second half as wee man had a training session with KT but first half we competed well. Needed to get to half time at 2-1. Didn’t think Fod needed to come off his line for the 2nd. Dembele was under pressure for Cardoso and Fod made his mind up for him.

There is no need to be unkind to them but I do wish all MSPs would quit social media.

We allow them the whole of the Broomie, they do what they like. Our club is to blame.

Maybe it's time to stop thinking about the points gap with Celtic for a while. We need to bounce back, and secure second place, by dealing with the rest i.e. Kilmarnock, Hibernian and Aberdeen. Another win in the cup would be nice too of course.

The league gap isn't because of today. It's because of a poor first half to the season dropping points that should never have been dropped. I don't see that happening next season.

Yup, and Ryan Jack, Graham Dorrans ... and David Bates

Could've done with Ross McCrorie today.