Michael Stewart makes Rangers title favourites and outlines ‘big difference’ that makes them stronger than Celtic
MICHAEL STEWART wrote off Rangers’ chances of winning the title earlier this season.
But the Sportscene pundit has changed his mind after seeing Philippe Clement’s side storm to the top of the table with a 3-0 win over St Johnstone.
Rangers could have gone to the summit in midweek but fell short by a goal against Ross County.
They made no mistake this afternoon, however, in Perth – taking advantage of Celtic’s slip at home to Kilmarnock yesterday to move two points clear with 12 games to play.
Stewart felt Rangers were out of the running in the autumn after their rivals had build up a seven-point lead.
But the former Hearts midfielder reckons it’s now their title to lose in the run-in.
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He told Sportscene host Jonathan Sutherland: “For me, it would be silly not to say that Rangers are favourites.
“They’ve got the ascendancy and the momentum.
“The challenge is there for Celtic.
“They need to get their big players back and get them back quickly to try to make sure they don’t find themselves any further behind.
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“They have to keep themselves in the hunt as it will be tight in the end.
“But at the moment I would say Rangers certainly are favourites.
“This is the first time they’ve been able to get to the top of the table since Philippe Clement has come in.
“And it just continues the momentum that has been built up since that appointment.
“On the back of the disappointment of Celtic yesterday, it just helps to hammer home the ascendancy they’ve got just now.”
Stewart highlighted what he sees as the key difference between Celtic and Rangers right now.
He added: “St Johnstone never offered anything in attack and Rangers, even when it was just 1-0, looked comfortable.
“And that’s the big difference at the moment between Rangers and Celtic.
“Even when the games are tighter and it’s not a dominant performance, there isn’t a nervousness about their game.
“They look assured and they’re sitting deservedly at the top of the table just now.”
And the one-time Manchester United prospect thinks the next Old Firm derby could be pivotal - if Celtic can steady the ship before then.
He added: “It’s helpful for Celtic that it’s one of the last games before the split.
“They’ve got a little bit of time between now and then to try to resurrect the season which feels like it’s going in the wrong direction for them.
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“I think it will be important. But the big challenge for Celtic is to make sure they don’t drop any points between now and then.”
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