Former Celt Charlie Nicholas today ramped up the pressure on theRangers by claiming Celtic ‘embarassed’ theRangers at Celtic Park last month and that defeat at Ibrox would to all intents and purposes end the title race for the Ibrox club.
Nicholas writing in his Scottish Daily Express column, stated:
“If theRangers were to lose to Celtic in Sunday’s high noon Old Firm(sic) showdown, then the Premiership title race would be all but over. It is a gigantic game for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers side. They can’t afford to lose at Ibrox. It would be very difficult for (the)Rangers to fight back to retain the title, especially as it would leave them six points behind the Hoops with just six games to go.
“Yes, (the)Rangers would still have the Europa League to aim for – but I think their title hopes would be over.Most of the pressure is on the defending champions.
“It is not just about the three-point gap because, even if theRangers were to win, Celtic would still be top on goal difference. It is the manner in which they were embarrassed at Celtic Park last month that will have stuck in the throats of Gers players and fans alike.”
Psychologically a Celtic win at Ibrox would likely mean there would be no return for theRangers. After all this is a team who held a six-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership going into the winter break, and now are three points behind, with a goal difference already close to the equivalent of an extra point.
Defeat on Sunday would leave the Ibrox club with a six-point deficit to turn around in only six remaining league games. Nicholas is right it would be a nigh on impossible task, considering Celtic are in the midst of a 31-game unbeaten domestic run at present.
With everything going on in the background at theRangers, such as revolting fans, boardroom Civil War fought out in the mainstream media – and via ill-advised club statements, you get the feeling an early goal for Celtic on Sunday, could see theRangers fans turn on their players.
Meanwhile defeat on the day, something that would all but signify the surrendering of their only league title, would result in all out carnage between the support, those running the club and of course the man winning the PR battle, Dave King.
Shan Riley
Talking of Embarrassing themselves, let’s have a recap with our Continuity Myth Exposure Kit – Everything you need is here…
