Connor Goldson insists streetwise Rangers won’t be “sucked in” by any Scott Brown antics at Ibrox.
The Light Blues defender admitted the clever Celtic captain exposed the inexperience of some of his squad during the last Old Firm game.
Striker Alfredo Morelos, winger Ryan Kent and utility-man Andy Halliday were all handed red cards after clashes with the Parkhead skipper during and after the champions’ 2-1 win six weeks ago.
Goldson confessed Brown’s wily behaviour hurt Rangers, but says the lessons have been learned and there will no repeat in Sunday’s showdown.
He said: “We made the mistakes on that day as a team and as a club that we have got to learn from.
“Truthfully, and people won’t like me saying this, he (Brown) has been very clever.
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“People will say why don’t we do it? But, realistically, it’s not right to do it.
“At the same time, he benefited his team by doing it and, as I said, we were inexperienced.
“We shouldn’t get sucked in by that and, on that day, we did.
“It’s just something we have to learn from and not let it happen again because it hurt us.
“I don’t know if you can call it frustrating because it’s our own fault.”
Morelos’ red card for elbowing Brown left Rangers with a man disadvantage for almost half of the game.
Goldson believes the squad’s naivety played a big part as he continued: “Last time, we were inexperienced and we acted as inexperienced.
“We’re a young team and, in the end, it cost us and you can’t afford to do that.
“The game is hard enough with 11 men, never mind with 10. That goes for both teams.
“When you play against good sides, we can’t do it with 10 men. It makes the job so much harder when it’s already hard with 11 men.
“Whoever the player may be, if you are left with 10, it makes the game twice as hard.
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“I think that is actually why we took praise from the last Old Firm game because it is very rare you lose one and get praise.
“In the second half, we were magnificent to a man and it’s probably the only time you will lose an Old Firm and get praised, but it’s understood that’s how hard it is to win a game with 10 men.
“It’s individuals, but you have to realise it’s a football match. What are you going to do on a pitch? What’s another player going to do?
“Realistically, they can’t do anything. It’s a game of football.
“A lot of things are said on a pitch by 22 men and a lot of things are done, but it’s a game and you get on with it. It’s forgotten about at the end and you move on, but I felt the last time we were a bit inexperienced to it.
“There were a lot of new faces on the pitch who hadn’t played many Old Firm games and it showed a bit.
“I just try and play my game. There are obviously times in a game when you get annoyed by yourself or someone or things happen.
“There might be arguments or tempers flare. It happens every week, but you know not to cross the line or go too far where it puts your team in danger.”
Asked if Rangers need to be more streetwise in the showdown, Goldson said: “Exactly.”
