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Daily Record
Sport
Adam Miller

Celtic fan in Superscoreboard mix-up as Rangers 'advantage' claim is ripped to shreds

Superscoreboard host Gordon Duncan became embroiled in a bizarre debate with a Celtic fan as the fallout continues from Saturday's derby.

Bill called the popular phone-in to suggest that Celtic's starting XI was "overloaded" with players who had been on international duty compared to the side fielded by Steven Gerrard at Celtic Park.

The presenter claimed that the caller hadn't done his sums correctly, and went on to show his working.

On Tuesday night's show, Duncan said: "Just to pick you up on something Bill, you said that Celtic were overloaded with internationals compared to Rangers, but I'm not sure your arithmetic quite stacks up.

"Out of Rangers' matchday squad on Saturday, at a glance, I think 11 or 12 of them were away on matchday duty so I'm not sure that's entirely accurate."

Bill replied: "When you talk about the team that's actually on the park", to which the host responded: "Well yeah six of Celtic's players, six of Celtic's starting XI were away...Bill, sorry I'm trying to do the numbers Bill, six of Celtic's starting XI were away on international duty and five of Rangers' starting XI, so there's not much difference."

Bill responded: "I don't know how you can say that. I don't honestly know how you can say that."

Gordon laughed and said: "Bill, hold on Bill, this is not some bizarre opinion of mine. I've got the team in front of me.

"Let's count them together, I might be wrong. Barkas..."

Bill interrupted to say: "He was away on international duty", to which Gordon responded: "Yep, that's why I mentioned him. Barkas, Duffy, Ajer, McGregor, Elyounoussi, and Klimala was away I think with the under-21s for Poland.

(Alan Harvey/SNS Group)

"On the other side - Rangers - Helander, Barisic, Kamara, Davis and Morelos were all away. So it's pretty similar."

Bill replied: "Hmmmm...nah."

Gordon Dalziel interjected and asked: "What do you mean no? Your argument doesn't stack up Bill, does it?".

Bill refused to back down, replying: "No, to be honest with you I still think that by and large Celtic had more players away."

Duncan was right in his calculations, with Celtic having a total of one more player in their starting XI on Saturday who had been on international duty.

Guess it depends on your definition of 'overloaded'.

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