Martin O’Neill shares Scottish Premiership title verdict amid Rangers ‘problem’
Martin O’Neill believes the Scottish Premiership title race is “far from over” after Rangers lost to Kilmarnock on the opening day of the season.
Michael Beale’s men suffered a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday (5 August), with rivals Celtic defeating Ross County 4-2 on the same day.
Despite the “very, very poor” result for the Gers, former Celtic manager O’Neill has emphasised that there is still a long way to go in the season.
“Far from it [being over] really,” O’Neill said live on talkSPORT. “Although it’s a poor start by Rangers obviously.
“The artificial pitch is something that some of the players they have just taken on will have to get used to, there are a few of those around. It was a very, very poor result. But it’s far from over.
“The problem you always feel with Rangers over the last couple of seasons is that on the day they can compete with Celtic, even if they might not always win the matches. But then it’s going to other places where you feel that Celtic can go and get the result away from home, whereas Rangers might struggle.
“That’s the point they have to address as much as anything else, because whatever you say about it, three points are on offer every single game.”
Disastrous start
Not only did Rangers lose their opening game, but Celtic won theirs, meaning there is already a three-point gap between the two Glasgow rivals.
Of course it is very, very early days after just one match each, but such is the competitiveness in Scotland, Gers boss Beale knows the gap cannot become too big.
Three points will be fine for now, but the gap cannot increase over the coming weeks if Rangers are to have any hope of toppling their fierce rivals.
Celtic weren’t exactly outstanding on all levels in their win against Ross County, but Brendan Rodgers has certainly appeased some angry Bhoys fans with the three points.
He is under pressure to perform given the manner in which he left Celtic to join Leicester City, but the pressure is on another level when it comes to his opposite number at Ibrox.
It was a disastrous start, but Beale can at least ease some pressure on his shoulders with a win against Servette in the Champions League third round qualifying match against Servette on Wednesday (9 August).
In other Rangers news, a windfall is on the cards at Ibrox as “lucrative” £25million news emerges.