Pearson: Nothing compares to intensity of Old Firm derby

Former Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson claims Old Firm derbies were unlike anything he has experienced in football.

Pearson once scored what was dubbed a '£60million' goal when his play-off strike was enough to send Derby into the Premier League ahead of West Brom.

But, speaking before Celtic and Rangers resume hostilities on Sunday in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals, Pearson insists nothing could match the intensity and pressure of facing Rangers in the green and white hoops.

The Motherwell midfielder said: "People will ask you what it's like to play in an Old Firm game and, until you have experienced it, it's quite hard to explain.

"The atmosphere, the pressure you are under, the pace of the game, it's different to any other game.

"It's 100 miles an hour, there are tackles flying in. You don't get a minute to get your head up: you get thumped. The fans are on you and there's an expectation and pressure to win.

"They are intense games but they are the best games, and that's what football is all about.

"People can say, having been and watched one, the atmosphere is excellent, but when you are on the pitch, it seems louder.

"It's one of those games where the adrenalin carries you through. You might feel tired but you still find that bit of energy with the crowd willing you on and what's at stake."

Many of the players on Sunday will be playing in their first Glasgow derby and Pearson admits he was lucky to have the likes of Stillian Petrov and Neil Lennon for company in the Celtic midfield when he made his first Old Firm appearance in 2004 at the age of 21, helping his team to a 1-0 Scottish Cup win thanks to a Henrik Larsson goal.

"You always remember the first one," he said. "I was quite fortunate because I played with a really good Celtic side, some big names helped me through it.

"I was only a young lad getting thrown in but I thoroughly enjoyed it. They were the best games I have played in."

Celtic comfortably beat Rangers 2-0 in last season's League Cup semi-finals, easing off after a dominant first half, but Mark Warburton's side have looked far more convincing this season.

Pearson added: "I think it will be a lot tighter than people think. The last one was a lot more one-sided than this one will be.

"It will be interesting and it should make for a good game, I just hope it's a good advert for Scottish football more than anything."

Pearson was promoting a charity golf event he is undertaking with Motherwell team-mates Stephen McManus and David Clarkson alongside Linlithgow golf professional Kenny Monaghan, who lost his mother Anna to cancer five years ago.

"We're trying to do 72 holes in one day, it's for Macmillan Cancer Support and it's in aid of a good friend of ours who lost his mother to cancer," Pearson said.

"We have set a target to raise £10,000 and it's something we are serious about doing."