Rangers’ title-challenge raised more than a few eyebrows at the start of the season.
Many didn’t want to acknowledge it and simply hoped that Steven Gerrard’s appointment was a false dawn. After all, Rangers have had plenty of them in recent years. The likes of Pedro Caixinha and Mark Warburton proved to be failures in the end, and those outside of Gers wanted the same with Gerrard.
Latching onto the club’s worst start in 29 years, outside sourecs were praying it was a sign of a downfall from Rangers. But, when you look at everything that’s happened at Ibrox this season, it’s anything but.
Rangers’ Europa League qualification has taken something out of the squad in several domestic fixtures. Draws at Aberdeen and Motherwell should never have happened, and the Celtic loss was simply down to a poor approach.
Now, however, Rangers are hitting their stride and playing the best football in the country. Celtic, the champions, have struggled so far to deal with the pressure being put on them by Rangers and even Hearts. They’ve now suffered dropped points in three of their six Premiership games.
Added to that, Brendan Rodgers’ side are simply dreadful to watch. Playing a pedestrian style of football, they’re struggling to score goals or break through any opposition.
Attack-minded football
This can’t be said of Rangers, however, who’ve smashed home nine goals in their last two domestic matches alone. They have goalscoring potential all over the side, and look like smashing home several in every game.
Gerrard has managed to mould together a side that isn’t just competing, it’s dominating. They’re playing the quickest, attack-minded football in Scotland.
The one thing Celtic fans won’t want to admit, however, is that finally there’s a real title-challenge on. Rangers are hungry for blood if their 5-1 mauling of St Johnstone was anything to go by. The Gers are adding a ruthless streak to their play and have now taken advantage every time Celtic have slipped up this season.
You sense that this Rangers side doesn’t want to let this opportunity slip from their grasp. Celtic may never be any weaker than they are this season. Rodgers’ side is weak at the back and toothless going forward.
That’s not to pretend that absolutely everything is perfect at Rangers. Still the opposition create chances too often and they’ve only kept one clean sheet in their last six matches.
One thing’s for sure, however, they’re playing the best football in Scotland at the moment and have to be taken seriously. Second place is no longer the target – Gerrard’s men are gunning for the title.
