Jason Jones

Sat 4 January 2020 13:37, UK

Rangers are at the most crucial juncture that have faced under Steven Gerrard to date. 

With just two point between them and Celtic at the top of the table, and with a game in hand, the Gers really do have the momentum in the title race.

But we’ve seen this before. This time last season Rangers were neck and neck with the Hoops, only to fall away a little in the second half of the campaign.

Things do feel different this time though, and Barry Ferguson thinks he has figured out why.

Writing in a column for the Daily Record, he said: “In some ways, the signing of Steve Davis and Jermain Defoe presented Gerrard with a bit of a problem last time around.

“It was a no-brainer to bring in that kind of quality but at the same time there was a very good reason both players were available – because they had hardly kicked a ball between them for six months in the English Premier League

“Gerrard faced that dilemma a year ago. He had brought in two top-quality players but struggled to fit them into his starting XI because they were understandably ring rusty.

“So they dipped in and out of the team and, in retrospect, Gerrard will probably look back on that period as a disruptive and damaging few weeks in 
the campaign.”

The ex-Ibrox skipper makes a good point here, and it shows the advantages of being patient in football.

Looking back at last season, you could maybe have made the argument that bringing in two first team faces in January, regardless of how good they were, was a huge factor in the Gers slipping and allowing Celtic to steal a march on them.

This time around, however, with Davis and Defoe properly bedded into the side, the Bears look like a much better side, and the added experience that the duo bring could prove to be vital if the club are to lift a first league title since 2011.

In other news, Chris Sutton looks to clarify Old Firm claim about Rangers ace.