Michael Stewart shares Rangers and Celtic verdict live on BBC Sportscene in Scottish Premiership
Michael Stewart has stated that Philippe Clement’s team always appears at ease, even when the score is close. This is the primary distinction between Rangers and Celtic this season.
This disparity was demonstrated this past weekend when Celtic played Kilmarnock at Parkhead with a 1-0 lead throughout most of the encounter, yet they never looked comfortable and gave up an equalizer in the 92nd minute.
Rangers, meanwhile, had a 1-0 lead over St Johnstone until the 79th minute, when they took the lead and went on to win 3-0 due to a brace from James Tavernier. They never seemed like they would give up.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene [18 February], Stewart shared: “St Johnstone never offered anything in attack. Rangers, even when it was 1-0, they looked comfortable. That’s the big difference at the moment with Rangers and Celtic.
“Even when the game is tighter and it’s 1-0, it’s not a dominant performance, but there isn’t a nervousness about their game. They look assured, and are deservedly sitting top of the table now.”
Will Rangers win the SPFL title ahead of Celtic?
Stewart is right, it’s the confidence and swagger about Clement’s team that has many tipping them to win the title. That air of knowing they can win each game they go into without much fuss, even when the game is tight.
Such has been the effectiveness of the boss’ management that even Chris Sutton has recommended Celtic take notes, with his calm and measured approach credited for Rangers’ recent success.
But with two more Old Firm games left this season, it seems like that’s the last obstacle they have to get past if they want to take the SPFL title away from their fierce rivals once more.
Celtic has been prone to mistakes this season, as they demonstrated once more over the weekend, but they have shown up for the Old Firm on both occasions, which has maintained their title aspirations.
It will be a true test of whether Clement and Rangers deserve to be champions if they can carry that confidence into the next matchup at the top of the table, instead of merely against the teams they should be defeating.
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