Former Rangers midfielder Bob Malcolm believes Martin O'Neill's Celtic side from the early 2000s was a “totally different animal” to the team Derek McInnes will face on Sunday as he reflected on one of the most memorable periods in the Old Firm rivalry.
Malcolm was part of the Rangers squad which won the Scottish Premiership and League Cup during the 2004/05 season, with the campaign eventually culminating in the unforgettable ‘Helicopter Sunday’ title triumph.
The former Rangers midfielder did not feature in the 2-0 League Cup quarter-final victory over Celtic at Ibrox on November 10, 2004, but he was involved in the league meeting between the sides just ten days later, when Rangers again defeated their rivals.
That first cup victory helped provide Rangers with momentum going into the decisive stages of the campaign, and Malcolm believes the qualities of his team were fundamentally different from those of the current Rangers and Celtic sides.
'Martin's teams were a total different animal'
O'Neill's Celtic teams during his first spell were renowned for their physicality, intensity and ability to combine that with quality on the ball.
Malcolm believes the modern Celtic side may play more attractive football, but the team of O'Neill's first spell at Parkhead possessed a ruthlessness that made them particularly difficult opponents.
"Martin's teams back in the day was a total different animal from team today,” Malcom said.
“Bigger, stronger, faster but could play as well compared to team now maybe play bit better football but not as ruthless."
The comparison comes as Rangers prepare to face Celtic twice in the space of seven days.
McInnes' side will welcome Celtic to Ibrox on Sunday for a League Cup quarter-final before travelling to Celtic Park the following weekend for a crucial league meeting.
Malcolm believes the two matches will provide an opportunity to see whether the current Rangers side can develop the same kind of collective qualities that helped his generation succeed.
The Rangers quality that mattered most
Malcolm believes the defining characteristic of the 2004/05 Rangers squad was not simply individual ability but it was the way the players worked for one another.
That collective mentality became particularly important when performances were not going according to plan.
"The most important factor was we looked after each other and had a core group that even when not playing well still put a shift in and done a job for the team,” he revealed.
The cup win that spurred Rangers on
Rangers' 2-1 League Cup victory over Celtic at Ibrox on November 10 was secured through a late equaliser from Dado Prso after a John Hartson opener, followed by an extra-time Shota Arveladze winner.
Malcolm was not involved that evening but returned to the side for the league meeting between the teams at Ibrox ten days later playing 20 minutes as a substitute as Nacho Novo and Prso scored against O’Neill’s nine-man Hoops.
Rangers won that match 2-0 as well, giving Alex McLeish's team another major psychological victory over their biggest rivals.
The sequence is particularly relevant to the current Rangers squad, who face the same scenario nearly 22 years later, a cup Old Firm at Ibrox followed by a league meeting at Celtic Park just seven days later.
For Malcolm, beating Celtic in the cup could provide the kind of momentum which his Rangers side experienced.
The 2004/05 campaign eventually produced one of the most dramatic title finishes in Scottish football history.
'We didn't believe them'
Malcolm's memories of the final day remain vivid. Rangers travelled to Easter Road to face Hibernian knowing they needed a result while also relying on Celtic dropping points against Motherwell.
The famous helicopter drama unfolded as the title appeared to swing between the two clubs.
Malcolm was on the Rangers bench that afternoon and recalls the bizarre moment when information began filtering through from the stands.
"Most of the bench that day was Scottish apart from Peter [Lovenkrands] so to be sitting there as a fan and a player was crazy,” he reminisced.
“It was actually Big Billy Thompson and Davie Lavery sitting behind us was telling us when Motherwell scored but we didn’t believe them until the Rangers fans erupted behind goal that they weren’t winding us up.
"The feeling at full time was surprise and relief mixed in one. It was like no one really knew if it was a joke or if we really won it, so it took probably until we went back to the dressing room before the helicopter landed for it to sink in."
Rangers eventually lifted the trophy at Easter Road, but Malcolm believes returning to Ibrox was equally important.
"Lifting the trophy at Easter Road wasn’t a problem. Think we were just happy to be lifting the trophy. It was a special moment for the fans that were there but was important we went back to Ibrox and I celebrated with the fans that couldn’t be there at Easter Road,” he said.
"The bus back was special, a group of players and management all having a drink, a singsong and chance to let their hair down after a long season.
"Nothing was planned. We had club tracksuits on, but it was still a brilliant day and night."
Those memories underline the sense of togetherness Malcolm believes defined that Rangers team.
As the current Rangers side prepare for two huge meetings with Celtic in seven days, the former midfielder believes that same collective mentality could prove decisive.
The modern game may be faster and more technical, and Celtic may play a different style to O'Neill's first teams, but Malcolm's message about what makes successful Old Firm sides remains simple, Rangers’ stars must look after each other, work for the team and find a way to win even when the performance is not perfect – something they have perfected under McInnes in the past four league games.
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