Rangers have been given an early advantage in the race for the Scottish Premiership in the strangest of circumstances, on top of the two point lead they already have over Old Firm rivals, Celtic.
With Boli Bolingoli treating himself to a short break in Spain, the Celtic full-back has potentially gifted the Ibrox side an 11 point lead, if Steven Gerrard’s men can beat St Johnstone, Livingston and Hamilton over the next week and a half, as reported in The Scottish Sun.
The Parkhead side have had fixtures against St Johnstone and Aberdeen postponed which, in a season that is already congested, will serve only to cause concern for those involved before we even get to the winter months – where there isn’t a break in play this season.
There was – for a while – a very real threat that football in Scotland was going to be paused, however, the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, applied common sense in issuing the game, and those that play it, a virtual “yellow card” serving as a last warning following on from the Aberdeen fiasco of last week.
Rangers have started the season well and although they will say that they are focussed only on themselves, it will be impossible to ignore the opportunity that has presented itself so early in the season with fans of the Light Blues knowing only too well from 2007/08 how important having points on the board is compared to games in hand.
Will Rangers win three out of three to gain 11 point lead?
Yes
No
Expect to hear “one game at a time” and other such clichés but if Gerrard can navigate his side through the next three fixtures, there will be real pressure ahead of Celtic’s next game – a potential banana skin away to newly promoted Dundee United, with the prospect of having to claw back a double-digit advantage after just two games of their season played.