St. Mirren boss Jim Goodwin believes that Rangers are the in-form team in the Scottish Premiership as he prepares to take his side to Ibrox for the first league game of the new decade.
The Paisley side visit Ibrox tomorrow and Goodwin knows there is huge pressure on the Gers players as they aim to topple Celtic in the title race and wants his players to “make life as difficult as possible” for Steven Gerrard’s men.
Rangers will be hoping to pick up where they left off in the league in December and Goodwin admits that the league is a two-horse race this season.
“Rangers are a very good side and probably the in-form team in the league at the moment,” Goodwin said, ahead of tomorrow night’s Ibrox clash.
“They finished in style before the winter break and they’ll be looking to start again from where they left off. It’s a huge thing the pressure both sets of Old Firm players are under right now, particularly at home.
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“It will be a full house with this being their first league game back after the winter break and there’s a level of expectancy now for the Rangers players.
“Their fans expect them to run Celtic all the way. It’s a two-horse race this season. With that comes its own pressures for their players and supporters. We have to make life as difficult as possible for them.”
The Gers will likely field a much-changed side from the Scottish Cup win over Stranraer on Friday but will still be without the likes of Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Filip Helander.
Gerrard’s side simply can’t afford any mistakes after seeing their title challenge slip away in the first few games after last season’s break following a string of poor results.
Rangers need to just make sure they continue grinding out wins and keep up their end of the bargain and hope the pressure causes Celtic to slip up before the next Old Firm meeting.