PAUL LAMBERT has blamed former teammates Jonathan Gould for his tooth injury at Ibrox in 1999. The former Celtic captain was speaking to Si Ferry’s Open Goal and the Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund called Gould ‘a bag of nerves’ and because of this, he lost his front teeth diving to block a shot from Albertz.

Celtic were winning 2-1 at Ibrox after a brace from Israeli internationalist Eyal Berkovic. However, Rangers received a spot kick from Kenny Clark when Lambert’s face collided with Albertz to draw Rangers level.

“We lost four two, we were winning 2-1 at the time.

“Gouldy was a bag of nerves that day. I remember somebody hit a shot that was ball going miles by into the Celtic end, but he’s dived outside his post and caught it.

“I said ‘Gouldy calm down, it’s alright’, but his nerves were away.

“I met him in Middlesbrough and I said to him, ‘You know the reason I lost my teeth? Because you were having an absolute stinker and Albertz was going to hit it’.

“I knew if he hit it he was going to score, and I had to try and block it.

“I blame that bampot because he done that.”

Lambert required surgery after losing several teeth and breaking his jaw; however, the defeat to Rangers didn’t stop Lambert enjoying an incredible time at Celtic Park as a player. The midfielder signed in 1997 and was part of the side that stopped Rangers’ ten-in-a-row as well as winning the league cup under Wim Jansen.

Following Jansen’s departure, the ex-Dortmund midfielder remained at the club during two tough years before becoming a mainstay in Martin O’Neill’s side that wrestled domination back from Rangers. Lambert also captained Celtic to a European Final in Seville, falling agonisingly short versus Porto.