Despite the significance of the massive New Year Old Firm derby that is looming large, heightened by the poignant 50th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster, Rangers captain James Tavernier appears fully focussed on the job in hand to lead his team to what would be a 14th consecutive SPFL Premiership win.
Ahead of the game at today’s press conference, the skipper was measured and calm with his words, choosing an understated approach to the importance of this particular fixture.
“We know we are not going to win the league tomorrow if we win the game, there is still a lot of football to be played. This one is just as important as the St Mirren game that we have just played so we’ve got to approach it with the right mentality and try to get the three points.”
Chance to increase the gap.
“We have to keep our consistency going in the second part of the season, we’ve done really well and we’re now just past half way. We need to carry on what we’ve been doing, approaching every game like a cup final, to put on a real good strong performance and that is our aim tomorrow. It’s a game of football and it comes down to who wants it most on the day”
On the absence of fans.
“It’s disappointing but you look around and see what is happening in the world. These are the games that you love to hear the atmosphere but safety and health comes first. We wish that the fans could be back with us sooner but we will just have to deal with it tomorrow.”
In homes all over Scotland, the rest of the UK and further afield, that sense of disappointment will be felt by Rangers fans at missing out on the big New Year derby clash. A raucous atmosphere would have been guaranteed but instead the game will be played against the backdrop of a calm blue sea of Ibrox. The aftermath at around 2.30pm will hopefully be anything but calm and quiet for the Bears as they crave the celebrations that would follow a Rangers win, to further increase the gap at the top of the table.