Jon Flanagan was delighted that Rangers picked up the points against St Johnstone, but also at Celtic’s slip at Kilmarnock.
The Gers faced Saints just 45 minutes after Celtic slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock. For the second time this season, Rangers are now above Celtic in the Premiership as they rise up to second place.
Flanagan was quick to express that his side can’t control how Celtic perform. But, instead of the usual rhetoric, the defender admitted that seeing Celtic lose a big game was great to see.
Speaking after the scintillating performance against St Johnstone, Flanagan said the following:
“We needed to put a statement out there and needed to pick up three points. There was a few updates from the Celtic game although it was still going on before we went out for the warm-up.
“Some of us didn’t know the score so to come in after the game and find out they had got beat was great.
“But we can’t control what they do. We just want to keep picking up points and see where it takes us. Our main aim was to get the win on the board.”
Ruthless Rangers
Taking advantage of rival slip-ups has been something Rangers haven’t done in a while. Under Mark Warburton, Rangers only once picked up points when Celtic slipped up. That changed slightly under both Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty, but not by much.
Now, Rangers look like beating anyone that gets put in front of them domestically, particularly at Ibrox.
The performance against St Johnstone was a throwback to the Rangers of old. The dominance and swagger about the display was befitting of previous successful Rangers sides.
Celtic will never be more vulnerable than they already are. A manager that’s looking more disinterested each week and a team who simply barely score goals. They’ll slip-up on many more occasions this season, and Rangers need to keep being ruthless to mount a title-challenge.
Much was made of Rangers’ “worst start in 29 years”, but Celtic’s worst start in 20 shows how vulnerable they are this season.
The Old Firm result will continue to be a source of regret for Gerrard and Rangers. If Rangers had got up and at Celtic then they could’ve taken something very easily. A win and they would’ve been running away from Brendan Rodgers’ side.
All ifs buts and maybes of course, but Rangers are showing the right desire and ruthlessness to be in the conversation come May.
