Celtic kick-off the defence of the Scottish Premiership this afternoon against St Mirren.
Celtic Park will have been rocking on Flag Day anyway but with Rangers drawing at Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday, there is likely to be a little added edge to the celebrations.
Russell Martin’s debut Scottish Premiership managerial career couldn’t have got off to a worse start as two dropped points hand Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic an extra incentive to put on a show against St Mirren this afternoon.
And speaking after the match, BBC pundit Derek Ferguson spoke about Celtic with a hint of resentment as he gave his league title prediction inside Fir Park after watching Rangers’ draw with The Well.
- READ MORE: Is Celtic vs St Mirren on TV? Flag Day kick-off time, live stream, team news, referee & VAR
BBC pundit Derek Ferguson’s bitter Celtic title prediction after Rangers’ Motherwell collapse
Ferguson is obviously an out-and-out Rangers supporter and here, he couldn’t hide his bitterness as he delivered who he thinks will win the title between Celtic and Rangers at full-time inside Fir Park.
Ferguson told BBC Radio Scotland [27m 40s], “I was thinking about St. Johnstone, but I’m going to stick initially, I’m talking about the Championship, I’m going to still go with Ross County, even though they’ve dropped a point.
“In the Premiership, it will be no surprise to you. I’m going to go with one of my old clubs, Hearts. I’m only kidding.
“Through very gritted teeth, there will be a lot of Rangers fans just getting into their cars and onto their buses, and they’ll be like me, kind of wondering what’s happened this afternoon, I don’t think we’re going to have enough to challenge Celtic, to beat Celtic.
“I hope it’s a lot closer than what it’s been in recent years, but no, I think Celtic have still got far too much.”
What Derek Ferguson once said about the gap between Celtic and Rangers looks daft now
Last season, Ferguson went on another one of his blue-tinted spectacle rants about the gap between Celtic and Rangers on the BBC.
It was a statement that not even his colleagues in the studio could agree with.
Ferguson said back in April, “I don’t think they’re streets ahead, and you’re going to laugh at me here, on the park. I think that can change very quickly in a close season.
“I think where Rangers are lacking throughout the club, but I think as for Celtic are far superior. But you know, of the 49ers, as we await them coming in and if you have a good close season in terms of the signings you bring in, and you’re quite strict and who you’re going to keep, listen, I think that the gap on the on the field is not as big as what everybody thinks.
“I think that can be cut back pretty sharply. And, you know, it depends who comes in, obviously the signings.
“So, I think it’s not as big as everybody makes out.”
Tom English couldn’t find it in himself to agree as he told Ferguson the gap is ‘massive’ and Stephen Craigan told his co-presenter that Rangers don’t have what it takes to compete with Celtic ‘over a season’.
And now, after just one game in the league, Ferguson has already surrendered to Celtic becoming the champions again this season.
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