The record shows that Rangers won the 1986 League Cup final by two goals to one but behind that dry statistic hides the fact that this was one tempestuous game, even for a Cup Final meeting between these two clubs it was something else, and the Celtic manager at the time, David Hay, when interviewed live on TV after the final whistle, asked aloud whether the club should just pack up and leave the Scottish football setup.
Hay had ended up on the pitch late in the second half arguing with the referee, David Syme, who had booked ten players during the game. The referee had been hit on the back of the head by a fifty-pence piece thrown from the crowd but for some reason he blamed Celt Tony Shepherd for the blow and red carded the youngster. After a bit of a melee, and after he was shown the offending coin, Syme changed his mind and brought Shepherd back. Celtic's respite was short lived however and they were reduced to ten men moments later when Maurice 'Judas' Johnston was sent off . This was the game, of course, where Judas blessed himself all the way off the park..
The usually mild mannered Hay looked back to that final and tried to explain the pressure he felt on that particular day. "I just think things can trigger you off." he said "Any Old Firm game can have that effect on a manager but there is a trophy at the end of this one. Sometimes there can be an instance or an incident in a game which can send you off."
"Normally, you try to be calm and collected but it can make you react a little differently." he continued, " I remember that final in 1986 and, to this day, I think I was proved right and the referee made a mistake in giving Rangers a penalty. It was a really tight game and one or two controversial decisions proved decisive."
" There was the red card for Tony Shepherd," continued Hay, "then the decision was changed. For some reason, I ended up on the pitch. Most people must have thought I'd lost the plot but I was trying to be a calming influence. But when I saw the refreee, you might put it mildly and say I reacted a bit differently from what I thought I was going to! I think that hinged on the fact the decisions were the difference on the day."
Although Gordon Strachan and Walter Smith are vastly experienced managers Hay reckons that Sunday just might be a bit of an eye-opener for them as the Glasgow giants go head-to-head with a trophy on the table. "It's not a great deal different in terms of preparing your team for the game." said David, "In that sense, it is not too much of a variation from the norm. What I would say is there is something a lot more tangible at the end of the day. In a league game, you can lose and it's not the end of the world. It feels terrible but at least you know you have a chance to get the points back later in a season. At a cup final, the trophy is sitting there and that makes it seem far more important."
"There is no way back if you lose. It's gone, that's it." continued the ex-Celtic boss. "The crowd will be split 50- 50, so that will be something else neither of the managers will be used to. You're either in your home environment or going away from home and into the lion's den in the league but at Hampden, it's even ground."
"I really believe this is a final which could go either way." added Hay. "There has been a strange change in the results pattern this season with the away teams winning a couple of the games. That doesn't normally happen. It's so difficult to call it just now. You may have a better idea when you know who is available and who is injured or carrying a knock. Things like that can make a difference. It may just come down to wee bit of magic or a controversial decision. I know that fine well!"
And just like Davie we know only too well which side the controversial decisions always favour so we'll be hoping for the magic and despite current form we have the players who can produce the magic on their day!