Alison McConnell shares potential turning point in Rangers v Celtic title tussle
Alison McConnell has suggested that Celtic did themselves “no favours” by beating Rangers in December’s Old Firm fixture.
The Gers were on the end of a 2-1 loss at Celtic Park in what remains the only competitive defeat of the Philippe Clement tenure to date.
That win moved Celtic eight points clear at the top, albeit having played two games more, and arrived two days before the transfer window opened.
Writing for PLZ Soccer [5 February], journalist McConnell said: “Celtic’s win over Rangers at the end of December could well come to be regarded as a result that did them no favours at all.
“It offered a comfort blanket after a tumultuous month where the wheels had threatened to come off, a result that was regarded by the club’s support as normal service returning.
“Defeat would have seen a busy car park with the banners and the protests and all the toxic aggro of the doomed ten-in-a-row season fully coming to the fore.”
Scottish Premiership title picture
That loss a little over a month ago was very tough to take and it did look as though it would be a case of so near yet so far for the Gers.
Clement had helped bridge the gap, but defeat in that game saw the margin at the top move back to eight points.
Since returning to action last month, however, Rangers have managed to now close the deficit to three points with one game in hand still to come.
That comes against Aberdeen on Tuesday (6 February), and a three-goal margin of victory at Ibrox would see the Gers climb into top spot.
As McConnell implies, losing that most recent Old Firm clash could prove a blessing in disguise in hindsight.
Rangers strengthened the squad in January and returned with a point to prove, which could yet propel us to a glorious title triumph.
The showdown with Aberdeen is another step closer to achieving that. If Clement pulls it off, this title win would be up there with the best of them.
In other Rangers news, Graeme Souness has hit back at a claim made by Simon Jordan regarding the Gers.
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