Rangers fans left Ibrox Stadium following the win over Kilmarnock with perhaps the biggest smiles on their faces this season.
To say the Ibrox side haven’t quite clicked in the Scottish Premiership is an understatement, with Rangers toiling in the title hunt and struggling to find the back of the net.
But against Kilmarnock, Philippe Clement’s young Rangers team finally announced themselves in Glasgow with a barnstorming 6-0 rout at Ibrox.
It was a performance of immense quality which has bred much excitement amongst Rangers fans.
But one outspoken pundit reckons that far from being delighted from yesterday evening’s work, Rangers fans would’ve been ‘demoralised’ by what later happened at Pittodrie.
Hugh Keevins on Rangers, Celtic & Aberdeen
Hugh Keevins has been around the Scottish footballing block and knows a thing or two about title races and the Old Firm dynamic.
The outspoken pundit is never scared to speak his mind and has courted controversy amongst Rangers fans with his latest comments.
As the Ibrox club’s supporters streamed out of Ibrox following the 6-0 win over Kilmarnock, Celtic were playing out a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen.
With Rangers 11 points behind their eternal rivals, Keevins reckons that result means the stunning romp over Killie effectively ‘means nothing’.
Keevins also shut down any talk of Aberdeen splitting the Old Firm this season, claiming that he ‘discounts’ the Dons from any title discussion.
”For me the significance of the night is the way the Rangers fans will feel about,” Keevins told Clyde Superscoreboard (04/05).
”Because as they left Ibrox, Celtic were still goalless at Pittodrie. By the time they got to the car park, Celtic had scored.
”I think the effect of Celtic’s goal will be to demoralise the Rangers supporters.
”I discount Aberdeen. Aberdeen are four points ahead of Rangers but Rangers have a game more to play.
”They’ve taken two points from their last 12. I think Jimmy Thelin has hit his first real serious roadblock in his time as Aberdeen manager.
”For me, it’s always about where are Celtic in relation to Rangers or vice versa.
“I think the look on Brendan Rodgers’ face at time-up as he went to the Celtic supporters told you how important this was for him tonight.
”The night has ended wonderfully well for Rangers, scoring six goals, best performance of the season in a league match.
”But it means nothing on the night because Celtic have got that goal and Celtic remain 11 points ahead of Rangers with a vastly superior goal difference, even though Rangers scored six times tonight.
”It still comes down to what is fundamentally a 12 point lead. That’s why I say the Rangers fans when they heard that Celtic scored must’ve felt demoralised.”
Clyde pundit risks ire of Rangers fans
The comments didn’t exactly go down too well with Rangers fans on the phone-in football show either.
One supporter branded Hugh Keevins’ claims as ‘pretty silly’ before going on to praise the Rangers team for what was a barnstorming second half performance.
When accused of speaking ‘utter nonsense’, Keevins defended his position despite host Andrew McLean also refuting what the experienced pundit described as an ‘opinion’.
”I’m telling you that the Rangers fans were looking for a chink of light,” said Keevins.
”They had it in their hands when Rangers won and Celtic were 0-0 at Pittodrie.
”The chink of light was then turned off because Celtic scored at Pittodrie and it meant it was as you were, as if those two games had never taken place.
”Celtic had an eleven point lead, effectively a twelve point lead because of the size of the goal difference that Celtic have in their favour.
”And that’s why I used the word demoralised because Rangers were that close to getting a chink of light and then it was turned off.”
Rangers sit third in the Scottish Premiership, four points off Aberdeen in 2nd with a game in hand.
Old Firm rivals Celtic have opened up a substantial eleven point lead over Rangers at the top of the table.
