BBC Scotland pundit Tom English has suggested Celtic fans don’t have the stomach for a title race with Rangers this season.
The outspoken BBC Scotland sportswriter was speaking ahead of Celtic’s clash with Kilmarnock, a game the Parkhead side wound up drawing 1-1.
That result has given Rangers the opportunity to go top of the Scottish Premiership table if they can defeat St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park this afternoon.
Heading into the match, and the rest of the season, Rangers are certainly carrying plenty of momentum and Tom English has claimed it’s unsettling Celtic supporters.
Tom English: Celtic fans don’t want Rangers battle
As the boos whistled out around Celtic Park come full-time in their draw with Kilmarnock, these lines from Tom English appeared to be proven correct.
Plenty of the Parkhead support have already conceded the title to Rangers – despite the fact Celtic are currently still top and at worst will only be two points behind this afternoon – and there is an overwhelming sense of panic in their ranks.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, Tom English reckons that – due to a “sense of entitlement” – many in the Celtic support don’t have the stomach for a title run in v Rangers.
“There is amongst some Celtic fans a sense of entitlement,” said English. “That they don’t want a title race.
“They haven’t had one in all the titles that they’ve won, OK, Rangers interrupted that very briefly, but all the titles they’ve won, they’ve won them very easily.
“Some Celtic fans don’t like the fact that there is a genuine title race now and they’re reacting badly to it.”
Premiership momentum swings towards Ibrox
As our Old Firm rivals begin to creak, you can be rest-assured there will be nothing but firm focus from Rangers heading into the final third of the season.
Philippe Clement has been clear that he wants to win it all this campaign and with the club competing on three fronts, anything but full concentration will not be tolerated by the hardline Belgian.
But whilst Rangers look like the picture of unity and concentration, Celtic are a nervous, fractured unit with discontent visible in the stands, pitch, boardroom and dugout.
Brendan Rodgers has tried to adopt a siege mentality by deluding Celtic fans over narratives in the press, claims which have not been backed up by their recent performances.
The draw with Kilmarnock is the latest stumble but Ibrox fans shouldn’t be getting carried away just yet.
Should the squad record a victory over St Johnstone, it’ll just be another step in the right direction and not until we’ve got two hands firmly on the Premiership trophy should anyone be celebrating it.
