Rangers defender Leon Balogun responds to comments made by Kris Boyd live on Sky Sports
Leon Balogun insists Kris Boyd has a point when suggesting that teams try harder when it comes to facing Rangers.
Sky Sports pundit Boyd claimed after Aberdeen's 6-0 loss to Celtic on 12 November that manager Barry Robson would have "absolutely no problem in getting them up for the next game because Rangers are in town".
Many have questioned those comments, including former Celtic player Mark Wilson, but Gers defender Balogun believes there is an element of truth to them.
"I think every team tries harder against us, always. So with all due respect that’s nothing new really," he said, as per the Daily Record [25 November].
Ruthlessness
Those comments from Boyd have attracted far more attention than he would have expected when making them two weeks ago.
What the former Rangers player was basically saying is that Aberdeen may have been thrashed by Celtic, but they would be fired up come their next match given the calibre of opponents.
Nobody can deny that teams are extra desperate to get one over on the Gers, which is only natural given the history of the club.
Ultimately, though, it will not matter if Aberdeen's players give that extra one per cent at Pittodrie on Sunday (25 November), as Rangers still have more than enough quality to get the job done.
Philippe Clement has brought back a ruthlessness to this squad, which has helped spark an unbeaten run under the Belgian.
Aberdeen will be a tough test, but this is a game the Gers should be coming away from with all three points.