Ally McCoist turns post split conspiracy theorist as Rangers icon has Celtic hunch over title race fixtures
Celtic will face Hearts at home on the final day while Rangers travel to Falkirk
Ally McCoist claims Celtic are ‘running it’ in the Scottish Premiership as the Rangers icon joked that the Hoops have a more favourable batch of split fixtures.
Upon yesterday’s SPFL announcement of the fixtures, including this weekend’s clash with St Mirren, Celtic will play four of their six remaining matches at home. One of which will be against current league leaders Hearts on the final day of the season. In comparison, Rangers will face Falkirk away on the final day in a repeat of this weekend’s pre-split fixture. They will also have to travel to Celtic Park and Tynecastle between now and the end of the season.
With just three points separating the title hopefuls, the split schedule was almost inevitably going to cause a stir with at least one of the teams. McCoist believes Celtic have been dealt a better hand than Rangers for the last five games and speculated that their final day fixture against Hearts has the potential to trigger some jiggery-pokery.
‘They’re running it’ - McCoist voices Celtic conspiracy
Speaking on TalkSPORT alongside Alan Brazil and Gabby Agbonlahor, the Rangers legend joked that Celtic may have had a hand in the split schedule. He commented: “You couldn’t have bet on them (Celtic) getting a home game on the last day of the season, man!”
When asked by Agbonlahor why he thought that was, McCoist responded: “Well, they’re running the thing up here, aren’t they! They’re absolutely running it, mate. They’ve got four of their last six at home again! We’ve got four of six away! You couldn’t make it up, pal! They’re playing Hearts final game of the season, right? Imagine one of them needs to win to stop us winning the league. Do you think [that] will happen? You’d better believe it will happen!”
McCoist on Falkirk test
While the humorous tone between the trio indicated what McCoist said was banter, the Gers icon believes Rangers have a serious task on their hands to beat Falkirk in their final match before the split this Sunday. The Bairns remain the only side in the division Rangers haven’t beaten in the Premiership thus far. He added: “All kidding aside, I think it’s just so tough to call. I really do. I don’t think there’s any doubt.
“I think there’s probably more momentum with Rangers, but see when we’re coming down to the crunch, guys? I’ll tell you. I think Rangers have got a tough game at the weekend against one of the teams of the year, Falkirk, and one of the managers of the year, John McGlynn. We’ve got to go to Falkirk twice. But listen, it’s brilliant. The fact that we’re talking about it as a three-way title race, I actually can’t remember the last time this happened. It’s great, mate.”