NEIL McCann has backed Joey Barton to keep his cool in the cauldron of Celtic Park on Saturday.
The midfield grudge match between the combustible Rangers midfielder and his Celtic counterpart Scott Brown, a man whom Barton dismissed as not being in the same league, is one potential flashpoint in this weekend's first Old Firm derby of the season.
While McCann admits the atmosphere on Glasgow derby day will be a novel experience for Barton, the former Rangers winger turned Sky Sports pundit feels that nothing the 34-year-old has done within Scottish football thus far suggests he will lose the plot at Parkhead.
“Someone will noise him [Barton] up," said McCann. "But he was on the receiving end of a heavy tackle at Kilmarnock and look at his reaction. He didn’t get up, go crazy and throw the toys out the pram. He took the hit and ended up going off injured but he didn’t cry about it.
"Nothing I’ve seen from him in Rangers’ colours suggests to me he’s about to lose control or do something stupid or reckless," he added. "I actually feel he’s a very measured guy and is clever about using social media to wind people up. But I don’t know if he knows exactly what he’s coming in to."
While Warburton prevailed in a taster course between these two sides in last year's Scottish Cup semi-final, McCann feels that the Englishman must compromise on his attacking principles if he is to get a positive result on Saturday, something he rarely if ever does. While Philipp Senderos is expected to bolster the backline on his full debut, McCann feels the Rangers full backs must play more conservatively if they are not going to be cut open by the pace of Celtic's attackers.
"I remember we spoke to Mark on the pitch at Alloa," he added. "He was asked if he would have to change and he said ‘no’. I’ll never forget that. I think he has to sometimes. Sometimes you have to put your hand up and think ‘if we open up against this team then we could be hurt’.
"Celtic are playing differently and are far and away more explosive and dynamic," he added. "And what Rangers don’t have is speed through the centre of their defence. I think Senderos is a good signing for his experience, stature and pedigree. But does he have the pace to deal with [Scott] Sinclair, [James] Forrest and Leigh Griffiths in particular? That says to me the two full-backs, who are quick, will maybe have to take turn about at staying home a little bit. That’s what I mean about Mark Warburton maybe having to tinker a little bit."
While the appointment of referee Willie Collum has caused controversy - he angered Celtic fans with a controversial penalty decision for a foul on Kirk Broadfoot at Celtic Park back in 2010 - McCann feels his past is an irrelevance and the match should be a good footballing contest. He is confident the atmosphere will be nowhere near as poisonous as the so-called 'Shame Game' of 1999 where he was a major protagonist as the Ibrox side won the title at Parkhead.
"I’m not going to bash anyone before the game," said McCann. "He’s had some big decisions in the past, shall we say. He’s got a lot right and many wrong. Those decisions come with huge repercussions sometimes. What has happened in the past in an irrelevance when it comes to this game. What isn’t an irrelevance is a team’s form."
**Sky Sports will show every Old Firm derby in this season's SPFL exclusively live, and nine of Scotland's 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches.
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