Former Rangers star Neil McCann believes the club’s players have benefited from playing matches behind closed doors in the early part of the season.
With so much at stake in this campaign Rangers have handled the early season pressure very well and find themselves nine points clear in the Scottish Premiership.
The Ibrox side has also only conceded in three of their 18 matches this season with a remarkable 15 clean sheets the foundation of the club’s early-season form.
For McCann, Steven Gerrard’s side has benefited from the quiet with the pressure sure to be ramped up from the stands had fans been allowed into grounds this season.
I do think the Rangers fans not being there, particularly at home games is having a positive impact on this side,” said McCann on Sky Sports’ coverage of Rangers’ win over Kilmarnock [01/11/20].
“Sometimes when players are feeling under pressure from the pressure being exerted from the stands – because they understand the requirement of the win – and when players get it tight, sometimes they take the safer option.
“So with fans not being there and not giving pressure from the stands, they’re probably taking the risky option, the braver option so it’s allowing the players to play with an extra bit of freedom and they are thriving on it.”
Rangers have stretched out an early lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership but Old Firm rivals Celtic can cut the gap to three points should they win their two games in hand.
Steven Gerrard’s side remains the only top tier team in the UK to be unbeaten this season and head to Lisbon this Thursday to face Portuguese giants Benfica in the Europa League.
