Michael Stewart: Rangers could be under huge pressure v Hibernian
Michael Stewart has insisted that Rangers will be under huge pressure in their semi-final clash with Hibernian on Sunday.
Celtic go first at Hampden Park this afternoon, taking on St Johnstone for a spot in the final later down the line.
Stewart believes that if the Old Firm side picks up the win, there will be nerves in the Bears camp to set up a huge final.
Writing in his column for The Sun, Stewart predicted that the Bears could be under huge pressure on Sunday playing second.
“It’s the first trophy of the season, the first chance to land a telling blow,” he wrote.
“So if they [Celtic] were to get knocked out it would raise questions as to how far along the road are they? Equally, a win would cement the belief that everything under Postecoglou is going the right way.
“And it would also pile the pressure on their rivals across the city as they prepare for a huge game of their own against Hibs back at Hampden.”
Really?
If anything, Celtic setting up their spot in the final this afternoon will motivate the Bears squad to go out and get the win.
Rangers will be determined to make it an Old Firm final and get revenge for that undeserved cup defeat at Hampden a couple of years back.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is the man in charge now though, but he won’t be in the dugout on Sunday afternoon.
It will be down to the makeshift coaching team to pull a result out of the bag, but given that Hibs haven’t played in almost a month, sticking to the basics could get them through.
The Bears need to eliminate any pressure by dominating possession and taking an early lead, then the rest should take care of itself.
In other Rangers news, Sky Sports share one issue that could still derail van Bronckhorst job at Ibrox despite announcement