George Overhill

Mon 2 January 2023 10:43, UK

Celtic will only have to worry about how many points they win the title by if they can get past Rangers at Ibrox, according to Andy Walker.

The former Bhoys striker believes Ange Postecoglou’s side will be “extremely confident” as they arrive for the Old Firm derby on Monday lunchtime, knowing that the league is theirs if they extend their nine point advantage at the top.

Walker had been leaving the door open for a potential Rangers revival on 28 December when he talked about how impressed by Michael Beale he was, but ahead of the match he was far less charitable to the new Gers boss’ chances.

Speaking live on Sky Sports from Ibrox on Monday morning (2 January, 10.06am) he said of the Hoops coming into the derby: “Extremely confident. They’re playing a lot of good football, ever since that loss against St Mirren they’ve been on a terrific run of form.

“They had a difficult game at Easter Road and they handled it really well. It was the quality of play that gives every Celtic supporter a bit of confidence they can come here to Ibrox and play the same type of football.”

Of a potential away win he said: “The league would effectively be over. I think it’s a tall order already trying to claw back a nine point gap.

“If it was to go to 12 points today it would just be a matter of how many Celtic win it by.”

Pressure

The talk is of the pressure being on Beale in his first derby, and to an extent that will be true whatever the relative standings of either side.

But so few are giving the Light Blues a chance in this game that they have little to lose in the long run, and everything to gain by the psychological boost of a good result.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst headed into his first Old Firm as a manager a year ago with the advantage in the title race, yet his side wilted at Celtic Park on the way to handed the league back to the Hoops.

This time around the gap is bigger in Postecoglou’s favour and he is the established manager, but should Beale be able to steal a win it may inject some doubt into the leaders’ minds.

The chances of overhauling the gap at the top are unlikely, and even if Rangers win this game this year’s title may be gone.

But the long-term importance of keeping the pressure on Celtic remains vital no matter whether it makes the difference to the current campaign.

In other Rangers news, Tom English has majorly talked up the visitors’ superiority in his BBC Sport column.