Rangers B team must set tone for crucial week with Old Firm victory tonight
A massive week for Rangers Football Club actually starts tonight as David McCallum’s B team take on Celtic B in the mini Old Firm derby.
Victory this evening for the young Gers will see them move to within three points of their Glasgow rivals with a game in hand as the two sit third and fourth in the Scottish Lowland League.
There are always extra sets of eyes on an Old Firm game no matter what level it is played at and tonight will be no different with a season-defining week ahead of the Light Blues.
McCallum’s men will have to overcome the home Celtic support at Parkhead much better than Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s senior side did in February though if they want any chance of local bragging rights come full-time.
After tonight’s clash is done though, all attention will turn to Thursday with van Bronckhorst’s side looking to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the Europa League quarter-final against Braga.
The Gers will welcome the Portuguese outfit to Ibrox with every intention of putting on a display akin to that of the first legs against Borussia Dortmund and Red Star Belgrade in previous rounds to make it to the last four of the competition.
They will then go from one cup competition to another as the second Old Firm contest of the week takes place at Hampden Park on Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Ange Postecoglu has got the better of van Bronckhorst so far but the Dutchman will be more eager than ever to put things right to reach the final.
For the senior players, they might just need that small kick in the rear from the B team tonight to remind them of what is really at stake this week as two defeats could see the realistic end of their season altogether.
In other Rangers news, Michael Owen has predicted the outcome of Thursday’s second-leg against Braga.