Ex-Premier League ace takes Rangers and Celtic standards to task as dire Old Firm scenario presents questions
One major talking point has been raised ahead of an all-important Old Firm clash this weekend
Rangers and Celtic are back in action this weekend as the traditional Old Firm rivals face off amidst one of the most unpredictable Scottish Premiership title races in recent memory.
The last time the Old Firm duopoly was broken by another side winning the league was back in 1984/85, when Aberdeen were crowned champions under Sir Alex Ferguson, but leaders Hearts are putting a 40-year record at serious risk this term. Sunday’s clash at Ibrox is a match which both sides must win, and neither can afford to lose. Rangers are currently four points behind Hearts in second, while Celtic are two points further off with a game in hand, and could be left as many as nine off the pace if results go against them this weekend - after the first of two Old Firm clashes in the space of a week.
Rangers fan and musician Robyn Keen spoke live on Sky Sports News on how she anticipates Sunday’s clash to turn out, while former Premier League striker Robert Earnshaw raised an important question on the current state of the Old Firm.
Rangers fan Robyn Keen gives Old Firm verdict
Keen said: “I think if Celtic were on form, it would be over for Rangers. But they’re not quite on form, so I think we probably still would have a small chance of winning the league. But it’s an absolute must-win game, there’s no doubt about it, definitely. We have to win.
“Hearts are playing fantastic, you’ve also got Motherwell creeping up as well, which nobody expected. So I would say Celtic have got more to lose in this game than Rangers, personally, that’s my view on it. I just don’t think they are great at the moment. But, again, it’s an Old Firm match, anything can happen on the day, so you don’t want to be too confident.”
Asked by Earnshaw whether she believes Rangers will win, Keen responded: “I would say I’m 75 percent confident that Rangers will win on Sunday.”
On Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Livingston last weekend: “This has been happening continuously. Celtic drop points, and then we drop them on the same day, which is just really, really frustrating. I thought Livingston were fantastic. To be honest, we didn’t really deserve to win that game, but it was just really annoying to drop points when we should be taking advantage of that type of game.”
Earnshaw raises question - have the standards of the Old Firm slipped?
Reflecting on Rangers’ draw with rock-bottom Livingston, former Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion striker Earnshaw raised an intriguing question.
“Is the reason for that because the league is getting stronger and all the other teams are catching up to Rangers and Celtic, especially, or have Rangers and Celtic just completely dropped from their standards over the years?”, asked ex Premier League star Earnshaw.
Keen responded: “Yeah, I just think it was more that Livingston stood up to the game. Their mindset was obviously very clear of what they were going to do, they weren’t going to let us score. I just think Rangers sat back a little too much and at this stage of the league, you just don’t have time to do that at all.”
Asked by Earnshaw whether the Gers have the quality to win the league, she added: “Of course, yeah. Because when you watch them playing against Hearts a couple of weeks ago, that was the team that you want to see – that they can play like that, that is when the supporters are behind them. You’re playing at Ibrox, they play very well at home, and of the games we have left the majority of them are at home. So I’m confident we will win the league.”