EX-RANGERS ace Andy Firth has revealed the specific instructions Steven Gerrard gave his players when playing against Celtic and Scott Brown.
Keeper Firth - who left Ibrox this summer to join Connah's Quay - explained that getting discipline in order was a key factor in derby matches, especially in the title-winning season.
Rangers reclaimed the title in the 2020/21 season to earn their 55th league triumph and end Celtic's dreams of a historic ten-in-a-row.
And Firth told Football Scotland that a key message for the season was performing in derby matches and not losing focus and being sent off.
In particular, Firth revealed that Rangers stars were warned not to let opposition fans or players - particularly Brown - wind them up and lead to a booking or sending off.
The 25-year-old explained: “For us, it was more keeping eyes on what we’re doing and focusing on what we can control. Especially playing against them and playing against him, you’ve got to keep your emotions under control. You know what he’s going to want to do.
“To give credit to him, he was unbelievable at winding people up and getting people sent off. It can change a game. That was the thing for us; don’t let him get in your head. When we go to their place, don’t let the fans get into your head.
“You’ve just got to control what we can control and that’s keeping your discipline on the pitch and ignoring the crowd and opposition players. The first 18 months of the gaffer being there, our disciplinary record was pretty shambolic.
“I think our discipline over the last two seasons has been absolutely spot on and I think that’s definitely played a part in the shift in the mentality and the discipline of the players. Keeping 11 men on the pitch for the majority of time and not letting people wind you up and get red cards. That’s definitely helped in the last two years.”
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