Celtic's marked Rangers man returns to scene of Scottish football history

This is especially true of an early season six-pointer, as Sunday’s clash in the east end of Glasgow already is. Of all those in attendance, it means a little bit more to Derek McInnes, if that’s possible.

Not only is it his first Old Firm match in charge of Rangers at the home of their fiercest rivals, but it’s his first trip back to the scene of an ordeal that even he might not have properly processed yet.

After all, it was only four months – just over 120 days - ago. A mere 17 weeks, with a lot going on in between. Every year since 1986, in the run up to the beginning of May, significant characters involved in Hearts’ last day shootout against Dundee know what to expect: phone calls from journalists wanting to relive the historic day, which has been described as Scottish football’s “JFK moment”.

It remains to be seen whether 16 May 2026, when Hearts lost the title at Celtic Park in uber agonising fashion, will continue to hold its charge for as long. One suspects it will. And why shouldn’t it? Celtic fans certainly won’t forget about it anytime soon – some rate it even better than ’86. And they won’t be about to let McInnes forget about it either.

Hearts had inched even closer to the league title than at Dens Park. Daizen Maeda’s goal, which put his side 2-1 in front and saw Celtic supplant Hearts at the top in the ‘as live’ table, was timed at 87 minutes.

Police Scotland is still releasing images of people they wish to speak to regarding the post-third goal pitch invasion. Pat Nevin has just issued an apology relating to the reported assault of Lawrence Shankland by invading fans following a BBC Scotland review.

The trophy might have been presented but the ramifications from that afternoon are still playing out. For neutral observers required to preview this Old Firm match featuring McInnes’ return, how can we avoid viewing that occasion as at least part of the context?

Celtic fans love to hate McInnes

What will McInnes be thinking when the final whistle blows this weekend – if indeed it does blow? What will he be saying in the post-match press conference, the one that didn’t happen last time round?

The then Hearts manager was halfway down the M8 with his players by the time this was meant to take place. All these details will become lodged in Scottish folklore, just you wait. McInnes will address them at some point, perhaps in the book he already seems overdue to write. A Rangers FC press briefing before a vital Old Firm game – is there any other kind? – is probably not the place.

And yet, even if last season’s last-day shootout had not taken place, or if McInnes had not been the losing manager involved, he would still be a marked man this weekend. He would still be the man the Celtic fans love to hate. They were singing for him to cheer up when Celtic were winning the Scottish Cup in May, before McInnes had even swapped Hearts for first love Rangers.

These fans see him as Ibrox personified, a true guardian of the Order of the Brown Brogue. The little matter of the video of an injudicious singalong back when he was a far younger man might have something to do with it. It’s possible he’s the most disliked Rangers manager since Graeme Souness in the eyes of the Celtic support.

He knows he will be targeted, as Martin O’Neill was targeted last weekend. Almost 20 years younger than his counterpart, the abuse might not seem as out of order – O’Neill is a pensioner and grandfather for goodness’ sake - nor as nakedly sectarian. In a way, McInnes might even welcome it. As a manager with over 800 games under his belt, there isn’t much he hasn’t already seen or heard. It certainly sounded like he was ambivalent about the response his very presence will trigger when questioned on Friday about the fiercely partisan nature of the crowd. At least Hearts had a grand total of 752 tickets for the title shootout. Rangers have zero fans backing them on Sunday.

“Sometimes, all that can be a wee bit overhyped and too much chat about it,” said McInnes. “The game's the game. Once the ball rolls, it's a game of football that we need to concentrate on, the details like in and out of possession, what we're looking to try and do. The support, regardless, was always going to be the vast majority of Celtic anyway. Even if there were some Rangers fans in, you're still trying to go there and try to keep a lid on things by performing well. It's the only way you can really do that.”

As for his coping mechanism, given he's bound to be getting it in the eye from a significant portion of 60,000 people, it’s nothing more sophisticated than 'bring it on'.

“Once the game starts, it's almost a bit of a relief,” said McInnes. “Once the game starts, you can just get to work. It's still the best part of the working week for me. I love my job and I love everything that goes with it. Sometimes the job's a bit easier than others. Normally three o'clock on a Saturday or this 12 o'clock on Sunday is the best part of the week for me. It's where I feel that the team need me most and I'm looking forward to seeing my team perform.”

If the home fans are baying at him, it means they are not targeting his players. And if these same supporters turn on their own players while calling out those in the home dugout, McInnes knows it’s a case of job done.