Steven Gerrard was happy to win ugly but it was the unseemly behaviour of some fans on an opening day of drama that earned Rangers unwanted headlines.
The new Scottish Premiership season kicked off in exciting fashion but the type of crowd disorder that marred much of last season reared its ugly head again.
Fans had been warned of a crackdown by police and clubs on any unacceptable conduct this season on the eve of the new campaign.
But after just one game the SPFL are coming under pressure to take action after a section housing disabled Rangers fans at Rugby Park was damaged by jubilant supporters celebrating Connor Goldson ’s injury-time winner against Kilmarnock.
Travelling legions were also unhappy after turnstile issues led to congestion with the Ayrshire side investigating those issues.
It’s safe to say the first Hotline of the new domestic season is back with a bang.
John Orr, Greenock, said: “The Rangers fans were an absolute disgrace again.
“They need to take football boots to away games with the amount of times they’re on the pitch. We’ve had incidents at Firhill, Hampden, Fir Park and now Rugby Park.
“And as for matters on the park Celtic have nothing to worry about after they scraped a win against a team who lost to a part-time Welsh side.”
John Burke, Condorrat, said: “The SPFL have to act now. We’ve had pitch invasions, toilets and seats damaged, coins thrown and now the disabled area at Rugby Park damaged. Something needs to be done about it.”
Dunky Robertson, London, said: “Rangers should name and shame everyone for the carnage at Rugby Park but the problem is they can’t afford to ban anyone as they need every penny coming into the club.”
Pat Reilly, Cupar, said: “Once again Rangers fans invade an away pitch. Was this the Champions League final? When will the SPFL take action on this issue or are they going to turn a blind eye again?”
Albert Styles, Stonehaven, said: “You would think Rangers fans would think before they carry out more damage at away grounds.
“That’s more money the club will have to fork out and it’s money the club can’t afford to waste. The amount of money Rangers have handed out for repairs in recent years could have paid off their debts.”
Anthony Martin, Glasgow, said: “Clubs and police promised a crackdown on the eve of the new season but the disgraceful scenes at Rugby Park on day one will put all those declarations to the test.
“Non-stop sectarian singing, pitch invasions and a disabled section destroyed by visiting fans. What action will be taken at this early stage to lay down a marker for the rest of the season?”
Arthur Wyllie emailed: “There is only one way to stop these incidents happening again - ban all Rangers fans from travelling to away games.
“Also, neither of Rangers’ goals should have been allowed. In both cases the corner kick which led to the goal was taken from outside the arc. When will referees start clamping down on this?”
James Brown, Glasgow, said: “Yet again Rangers fans shame Scottish football. This is the same set of supporters who last season accused Celtic players of putting the lives of disabled Rangers fans at risk when they were the ones who charged forward.”
Killie chief Billy Bowie took the decision to slash the allocation of both Old Firm clubs following ugly incidents during a game against Celtic last season.
And Jim McClean, Rothesay, said: “The very first day of the season offered a reminder of why Kilmarnock cut the Old Firm’s ticket allocation with the Rangers fans invading the pitch.
“If Donald Trump can build a wall on the Mexican border then surely Billy Bowie can build a fence at the Chadwick Stand to keep the idiots from getting on the the pitch before someone gets seriously hurt.”
Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, said: “The quickest player on the park at Kilmarnock’s ground on Sunday was the fan who ran past the Kilmarnock steward at the end as if he wasn’t there.
“No excuses for the hooligan behaviour but Kilmarnock treated Rangers fans like cattle and the inept stewards aren’t fit for purpose.”
Celtic got off to a flyer with a 7-0 hammering of St Johnstone on Parkhead flag day with Ryan Christie the star of the show after his hat-trick.
James Robertson, Dennistoun, said: “One Scottish sports hack asked if Celtic were a busted flush. Well, I’d like to give a definitive answer - they’re a royal flush going on the performance against St Johnstone.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “Even this early in the season it seems there are similarities between when Brendan Rodgers made James Forrest twice the player and Neil Lennon working the same magic on Ryan Christie.
“It’s such a relief that John McGinn didn’t move to Parkhead because Christie would be playing at Easter Road now.”
