The contrast could hardly have been clearer for Celtic supporters over the course of just four days. First came the humiliation at Ibrox

From a Roaring Ibrox to Frustrated Celtic Park: The Chants That Captured Two Very Different Nights

The contrast could hardly have been clearer for Celtic supporters over the course of just four days. First came the humiliation at Ibrox, where Rangers produced a commanding 3–0 victory in front of an entirely blue crowd. Then came another difficult European night at Celtic Park, where Ferencváros left Glasgow with a 3–1 victory and the home support responded with loud boos and visible frustration.

The two matches created completely different atmospheres, and the sounds coming from the stands told their own story.

At Ibrox on September 13, Rangers dominated the first Old Firm meeting of the season. Dan Neil scored twice, either side of Kevin Kelsy’s goal, as Derek McInnes’ side comfortably progressed to the Scottish League Cup semi-finals. With away supporters absent from the fixture, more than 51,000 Rangers fans filled the stadium, creating an entirely one-sided atmosphere.

Reports described the Ibrox crowd as rapturous throughout the afternoon. The Irish Times noted that the home support were repeatedly at the top of their voices, while the Guardian described the atmosphere as charged as Rangers overwhelmed their city rivals.

After Rangers completed the 3–0 victory, a report claimed supporters introduced a new chant built around the result, including the lines “Three-nil at the Ibrox” and “Rangers put the Hoops down.” The same report said the chant quickly spread around the stadium and was shared online after the final whistle. Because that wording comes from a secondary source rather than the major match reports, it is best treated as a reported supporter chant rather than an independently verified official song.

The broader message from the Rangers end was nevertheless unmistakable: the supporters were celebrating a dominant derby victory. The team had scored three times, kept a clean sheet and controlled the game, while the home crowd had spent the afternoon celebrating their side’s superiority.

Four days later, however, the atmosphere surrounding Celtic was dramatically different.

Celtic welcomed Ferencváros to Parkhead on September 17 hoping to recover from the derby defeat. Instead, another three goals were conceded as the Hungarian side recorded a 3–1 victory. Mika Baur briefly brought Celtic level, but Kristoffer Zachariassen restored Ferencváros’ lead before former Celtic player Daniel Arzani added a third shortly after half-time.

This time, there was no triumphant chant to celebrate.

Instead, reports described boos from the Celtic supporters as frustration grew inside Celtic Park. The Scottish Sun reported that boos rang out during the defeat, while Martin O’Neill later acknowledged that he understood why supporters were expressing their anger.

That distinction is important. While the Rangers supporters had a specific scoreline to celebrate after their 3–0 derby victory, the Celtic supporters’ reaction against Ferencváros was primarily one of dissatisfaction. The noise from the stands reflected the performance rather than celebrating it.

The timing made the situation even more uncomfortable for Celtic. The Ferencváros defeat came only four days after Rangers had beaten them 3–0. Instead of immediately producing a response, Celtic suffered another heavy defeat and conceded three more goals. The Times described the European performance as another major setback following the Ibrox defeat.

The comparison between the two atmospheres therefore provides a striking picture of football’s emotional extremes.

At Ibrox, every Rangers goal increased the volume. Neil’s opener gave the supporters something to celebrate, Kelsy’s second strengthened the belief that the derby was slipping away from Celtic, and Neil’s second completed the scoring and sparked further celebrations. The home crowd could enjoy the occasion without an opposing travelling support inside the stadium.

At Celtic Park, the emotional direction went the other way. Baur’s equaliser offered a brief moment of optimism, but Ferencváros quickly restored their advantage. Arzani’s goal then made the situation even more difficult, and the final stages were accompanied by frustration from the home supporters.

So the two matches produced two very different soundtracks.

Rangers fans: a celebration built around a 3–0 derby victory, with reports of a new scoreline-based chant and a loud Ibrox atmosphere.

Celtic fans: a frustrated reaction to a 3–1 home defeat, with reports specifically recording boos rather than a clearly documented new chant.

For Celtic, the challenge now is to turn that frustration into a response. The two Glasgow rivals are scheduled to meet again in the Premiership on Sunday, giving Celtic an immediate opportunity to respond to both the 3–0 derby defeat and the subsequent European setback.

The noise from both stadiums has therefore become part of the story: celebration at Ibrox, frustration at Celtic Park, and two very different reactions to two very different results.