Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker has been bigging up Rangers’ title chances this year against Neil Lennon’s Celtic.
Walker is a largely unpopular figure amongst the Celtic support for consistently looking to pick holes in the club. He continues to be Sky’s face of Scottish football analysis, and his negative comments towards the Hoops are consistently frustrating.
However, yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Livingston has ramped up the pressure on Lenny’s Bhoys. It’s the first time this season that Rangers have been above Celtic in the league table. As you can imagine, plenty across the city have been getting carried away with it too.
And Walker has been talking up the battle between the two sides. Speaking to Sky Sports, he stated that the title-race will go down to the wire this season.
“I don’t think we’re going to see many points given up by Celtic and Rangers. Admittedly, Celtic have followed up a draw with a defeat. I think they’re going to prove to be really debilitating in their quest for the title.
“If Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe steer clear of injury I think Rangers have every chance [of winning the title]. I think from middle to front they’re creating chances.
“The response since losing to Celtic has been absolutely first class. And, make no doubt, the title race is going right to the end of the season.”
If Celtic click onto gear, nobody in Scotland can stop us
Making title predictions on when the league will be won is a dangerous game. Nobody truly knows. If Hearts beat Rangers and Celtic overcome Ross County in the next round of fixtures, Celtic would leapfrog their rivals again. It’s that tight at the top just now.
However, in 30 games time, Celtic could still easily be racing clear of their rivals if we click into gear. But we’re not blind, Rangers have won all seven league games against teams outside of Celtic. They’ve clearly found some consistency this season to put the pressure on us.
But people seem to forget that this is a Celtic side that thrives on challenges. Weren’t we supposed to be in one last year? Were we not level on points as far into the season as the New Year? Or does that not count because Celtic ended up stepping things up a gear and ran away with the title?
The team that Lennon has assembled has so many goal threats in the team. They look stronger in many positions than they were last season. Added to that, we don’t have a manager that’s going to leave the club midway into a close title-fight either.
Rangers have improved. We all acknowledge that. But this remains a Celtic side who have won eight Premiership titles in a row. Treble treble winners too. It’s a side capable of going on winning runs that nobody else in Scotland can match.
Talk like this from Walker must reach the players. It’s the kind of motivation that can shoot us back into form. He won’t be the only one to talk about what our rivals can do this season. Surely, there’s enough motivation there for Celtic to shoot their Ibrox foes down. Hopefully, that’s exactly what happens in the coming months.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
