Michael Stewart makes new ‘concern’ admission in Rangers and Celtic SPFL title prediction live on BBC
Michael Stewart says it is a “concern” for Celtic that their starting line-up is weaker than last season after Rangers amped up the pressure on their rivals this weekend.
Celtic were on the end of a surprise 2-1 loss away at Kilmarnock on Sunday (10 December), leaving the gap at the top at five points following the Gers’ 3-1 win over Dundee the previous day.
Rangers also have a game in hand on their fierce rivals, meaning the margin could be bridged to just two points ahead of the Old Firm showdown at Celtic Park on 30 December.
Asked if the Light Blues now have a realistic chance of usurping Celtic at the top, Stewart told BBC Sportscene [10 December, 19:40]: “I mean, certainly from Rangers’ perspective it’s another opportunity for them to close the gap that Celtic have presented them.
“There’s been a few of late that they’ve not been able to capitalise on. If they have any hopes [of catching Celtic] they need to step up to the plate.
“But you’re right in that nobody envisaged Celtic presenting this many opportunities to Rangers. Fundamentally, it comes down to the recruitment and that the team they have isn’t as good as it was.
“They brought in eight or nine players in the summer and none of them have really improved the starting eleven. That’s a concern for Celtic.”
Old Firm on the horizon
Rangers trailed Celtic by seven points when Philippe Clement took over on 15 October, at which point nobody really gave the Gers a serious chance of catching the leaders.
Celtic were finding a way to pick up wins, whereas the Gers had recently been on the end of a 3-1 home loss to Aberdeen that really was the nadir of the season.
Since then, they have picked up 25 points from a possible 27 in a nine-game unbeaten run to blow to the title race wide open.
With home matches against St Johnstone and Ross County to come before the trip to Celtic, as well as a showdown at Motherwell, Clement will no doubt be eyeing three more wins.
Achieve that, and victory against Celtic in a few weeks’ time would be up there with the sweetest of recent times.
In other Rangers news, a Gers regular will be sweating over his starting spot for the Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen after comments made by Clement.