Michael Stewart is convinced Celtic are on their way to another Scottish Premiership title and doesn’t think Rangers have much hope of a derby victory this weekend.
Celtic have won two of the three derbies already played this season, including a thumping 4-0 victory at Saturday’s venue. The other ended in a valuable draw for the Bhoys after a late Kyogo Furuhashi equaliser.
Stewart reckons the Japanese striker’s goal in that one was the moment that confirmed the Bhoys were heading for more silverware. He also believes Ange Postecoglou’s midfield will just have far too much for their Ibrox counterparts – drawing particular attention to Reo Hatate, Aaron Mooy and Callum McGregor.
BBC pundit predicts Celtic victory over Rangers
Speaking on BBC Sportscene, the pundit said: “That moment from Kyogo, the late equaliser, that was where the league was won. There was no danger that Celtic were going to drop nine points more than Rangers.
“Rangers are a different beast from the last game at Celtic Park. Michael Beale’s come in and steadied the ship, he’s making progress with them, but Celtic are the benchmark. When you compare the two, the intensity that Celtic play at is the difference.
“Rangers don’t have that for me. The one criticism of Michael Beale’s team is they’ve been getting results, but the intensity hasn’t been there. When you look at the players they’ve got, the likes of Cantwell and Tillman aren’t intense players. And when they come up against the likes of Hatate, McGregor, Mooy or whoever, those sorts of players get the upper hand when you go like-for-like.
“Look at the cup final, the first goal came down that side where Tillman was playing. Overloads, players at the back of him, those fine margins are the difference. And I just think Celtic have that margin of a difference over Rangers, particularly at home. Will it be a 4-0? I’d be surprised, but I’d be even more surprised if Rangers were coming away with a victory.”
The predictions from neutrals will likely lean heavily in Celtic’s favour this week, considering what’s gone before this season. The Bhoys are undoubtedly the favourites.
For us fans, the feelings on this one will likely swing between bravado, reasonable optimism and that pang of nervousness that comes up before every single derby regardless of the context. At least it does for me!
It’s a big week for Postecoglou’s squad. They know if they get the job done this weekend then nothing is stopping them from lifting the title in May. More often than not they’ve delivered the goods. It’s time to do so again.
In other news, Manager impressed by what Johnny Kenny is doing out on loan from Celtic.
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