AFC Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie says his experience of playing in Old Firm derbies will stand in him in good stead when he goes into the Lions’ Den.
Christie featured for Celtic in a number of games against arch rivals Rangers as well as lining up for the Bhoys in some big nights of European football.
The 26-year-old winger has also showcased his talents with Scotland on the international stage and is no stranger to performing in front of partisan and hostile crowds.
Scott Parker’s team will be hoping to bounce back from Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Derby County when they meet Championship rivals Millwall at The Den on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off).
Christie said: “My first couple of Old Firms were a bit manic and it opened your eyes a bit.
“But after you’ve played in a few, it calms you down and you have the experience of playing in that kind of environment.
“There were a few European ties with Celtic when you go away to different countries and it can be very hostile.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have the experience of going to these places, having to deal with it and putting it to the back of your mind so, hopefully, that helps me at Millwall.
“The exciting thing about the game is how quickly it has come around. We went home and were down in the dumps after Sunday and you just want to put it right.
“It’s a lot harder to get your head around that when you’re waiting maybe a week or ten days for your next game.
“Games come thick and fast and that gives you an opportunity to put it right. Everybody wants to get back to winning ways and to have that winning feeling again. We are just desperate to do that.”
Christie is already one of the leading assist-makers in the Championship having set up six goals in 13 games since his move from north of the border.
Asked how he had adapted to the second tier in England, he said: “I’m enjoying it, it’s good. I’m enjoying all the new experiences.
“Spending my whole career until now in Scotland, you face the same teams and the same challenges. Now, it’s different teams, different places to play and new stadiums. It’s a fresh change and, so far, I’m reaping the rewards of that.
“I’ve played enough games to realise the highs and lows of it. You can’t get too high when you win or too low when you lose.
“The Derby game was frustrating, especially the way it went. We didn’t start too well and then managed to get ourselves back into it. I think we were just looking to put the game to bed in the second half and the opposite thing happened.
“Credit to Derby, it opened my eyes. They are bottom of the league because of the points deductions but it shows there isn’t a huge difference in quality between the top and the bottom.”
