As Celtic lose influential midfielder Reo Hatate until after Christmas, Rangers must continue to apply the pressure in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Incoming Belgian manager Philippe Clement is clear that within the walls of Ibrox, the Gers will be fully focused on their own side.
It comes after the club cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to five with the next set of dropped Old Firm points to be crucial in any potential Rangers title race this season.
But whilst there is early promise in the coaching career of the Belgian at Ibrox, the 2-1 turnaround at home to Hearts pleasing Clement, Rangers have failed to apply pressure on Celtic in key moments over the last few seasons.
Whilst the Parkhead side have pounced whenever they’ve smelled blood at Ibrox, Rangers have failed to capitalise at any sign of weakness coming out of Glasgow’s eastend.
Philippe Clement’s side passed their first test in this regard as they took advantage of Celtic’s slip up away to Hibs to cut into the Parkhead side’s lead in the table.
But it can’t stop there.
Celtic feel Reo Hatate injury blow as Rangers look to ramp up pressure
As Brendan Rodgers’ team drew a blank away to Hibs, the 0-0 draw was compounded by an injury update on Celtic’s Japanese international midfielder Reo Hatate.
The influential star is now set to be ruled out until after Christmas, joining Stephen Welsh and Liel Abada on the sidelines.
Whilst Rangers will be more focused on what happens inside Ibrox, in these moments as of late the club have failed to turn up the heat at Parkhead and Rangers must turn the screw in Glasgow by keeping up their form and winning football matches.
If we are to see a different beast under Philippe Clement in Glasgow then it begins by being unrelenting in the face of Celtic’s wobbles and Rangers have to strike whilst the iron is hot.
That begins by going to Dens Park and defeating Dundee on Wednesday night and so long as Rangers rack up the Scottish Premiership wins then Celtic will be forced to look over their shoulder.
The visit of form Premiership outfit St Mirren shouldn’t yield too many problems for Celtic but if it does then Rangers must put themselves in a position to take advantage.
For too long, whenever Celtic have slipped up we’ve failed to capitalise but with that last-minute victory over Hearts Rangers fans are praying for Scottish Premiership change.
If Rangers can show this Celtic team that they’ll have to fight harder in the title race this season, it’s a pressure that may well tell in the weeks and months ahead.
