Rangers visit Easter Road tonight in a crucial Premiership fixture with added emphasis given recent events at Hampden.
The clash against Hibs presents the ideal opportunity for Gio van Bronkhorst to set down a marker and add to the momentum that has built over the last week with two wins from his first two games in charge of the Scottish champions. With the turn of the new month, the visit to Edinburgh is the first of seven Premiership games in December for the Gers, up until the Old Firm game on 2nd January followed by the Winter break.
So, with 21 points available before the champions go across the city to Parkhead, just how many can be secured?
21 is very ambitious and whilst it is possible, the form of the team so far this season suggests that some points will be dropped – the same can be said for Celtic.
Yes, with the change is management, a new dynamic is in play but 17-18 points would be a decent return, whilst securing full points would be transformative in the pursuit of retaining the title.
The run of Premiership games this month looks like this:
1st Dec – Hibs – A
4th Dec – Dundee – H
12th Dec – Hearts – A
15th Dec – St Johnstone – H
18th Dec – Dundee Utd – H
26th Dec – St Mirren -H
29th Dec – Aberdeen – A
The one other game next week is the final Europa League Group A clash with the trip to Lyon but thanks to qualification already being secured, the pressure is off for that tie prsenting a chance for others to play and key players to be rested, with the immediate priority of the heavy league schedule in mind.
First up is Hibs and with a degree of retribution required, the supporters will not be found wanting in Leith backing their team to the maximum so it is up to the players to do the business on the pitch.