By Peter Lynch

19th Apr, 2023 | 6:10pm

Andy Walker shares ‘very difficult’ Rangers verdict ahead of Scottish Premiership split

Andy Walker believes it is “very difficult” for clubs to take points off Glasgow rivals Rangers and Celtic this season.

Celtic currently sit top of the Scottish Premiership, having won 30 of their 32 matches this season.

Rangers meanwhile are 12 points behind in second, winning 25 of their 32 league matches.

The Bhoys have drawn once and lost once this season, with the Gers having drawn four and lost three of their games.

“I think we all accept it’s very difficult this season to take any points from Rangers and Celtic, but Hibernian, Hearts, Aberdeen, St Mirren or Livingston – whoever ends up in the top six – I think there’s a real chance of taking points off the others,” said Walker, as quoted by Sky Sports.

Bridging the gap

It’s been a constant theme of Scottish football over the years of Celtic and Rangers dominating proceedings, with the clubs continuously battling it out with each other for the league trophy.

Ange Postecoglou’s side look likely to lift it this time around, with their 12-point gap unlikely to be broken down too much, if at all, by Rangers in the weeks to come.

But the position of both clubs this season once again highlights the gap in quality, with Aberdeen their nearest competitors in third place.

They have 50 points to their name, with Celtic leading on 91 and Rangers on 79. It leaves the other clubs to fight it amongst themselves for strong positions in the table.

That gap in quality has even forced Rangers into difficulty, with their struggles against Celtic playing a major role in their expected second-place finish, having gone so strongly under manager Michael Beale so far.

In other Rangers news, Cercle Brugge captain Hannes Van der Bruggen has urged supporters to be patient with one Gers youngster.