Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain has said that beating Rangers at Ibrox with just 800 fans or even no supporters at all will make the win “sweeter”.
Rangers are giving Celtic a tiny allocation for the Old Firm clash at Ibrox on December 29.
And Celtic bosses are considering rejecting them if their safety can’t be guaranteed.
However, number two keeper Bain says the furore isn’t bothering the Celtic players.
Talking in the Scottish Sun, he said, “I think our supporters are fantastic. The best I’ve ever seen.
“There are a lot of away games that feel like home games because our fans are so loud. That plays a big part for us. They push us through.
“However many fans we have at Ibrox, I’m sure they’ll be loud, and the boys will work and play as hard as we can for them.
“If there are no fans? Well, it will be good to win then, eh? I don’t know how it would feel, but fewer Celtic fans will make it sweeter if we win the game.”
OPINION
The controversy over the Rangers and Celtic tit-for-tat ticket allocation is overshadowing what’s set to the the most eagerly-anticipated Old Firm clash in a long time. Celtic drew first blood this season with a 1-0 win at Celtic Park but since then the Gers have pushed on and are looking like they might be able to mount a serious title challenge. They can go top of the league with a win against Hearts at the weekend as Celtic prepare to face Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday. Having few or no Celtic fans at the game will give Rangers the advantage at Ibrox in December but Bain has brushed off any suggestion that it will affect the players. If Celtic do accept the allocation then those 800 fans will look to make as much noise as they can. But good luck not getting drowned out by the Rangers fans.