Rangers must make Celtic wait for the title as Barry Ferguson's lieutenant warns against 'stupid and naive' mistake
A win for Brendan Rodgers' team against Kilmarnock will mean defeat for Gers against Aberdeen will secure a 55th league crown
Billy Dodds has stressed the importance of making Celtic wait to win a 13th title in 14 years.
The Hoops beat Kilmarnock 5-1 in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off to send Brendan Rodgers' team 16 points clear with five post-split games still to play. And another defeat for Rangers at Pittodrie would seal the deal.
The Light Blues lost 2-1 to Aberdeen back in October and face a Dons side locked in a three-way battle with Hibs and Dundee United for third place.
Given Gers’ recent league form under Barry Ferguson, few would be stunned if the hosts were to come out on top in the North East. But more than a few frank words following last Saturday’s home reverse to Hibs seemed to shake a response out of his squad in midweek.
Spanish cracks Athletic Bilbao were denied, first with ten men after Robin Propper’s early dismissal and then nine after Dujon Sterling was forced off late on once Rangers had made all their subs.
Liam Kelly’s penalty save was key in securing a goalless draw ahead of next Thursday return leg at the San Manes, where the final will take place and both sides are dreaming of reaching.
But first, the nightmare of handing Celtic the title before the split by losing to Aberdeen of all teams must be avoided.
“Of course it’s important and we’re striving to do that,” said Ibrox assistant Dodds. “We’ll see what we’ve got for the Aberdeen game but I swear, all we’re concentrating on is Aberdeen, we’re not even looking at next Thursday. It would be naive and stupid if we even look forward to next Thursday. We are just looking at Aberdeen now.”
Dodds insists the clash with Jimmy Thelin’s side is just as big as the one with Ernesto Valverde’s.
Fans might not agree given the league has become a foregone conclusion, but this is a manager and coaching staff who have a point to prove after meek defeats to Motherwell and Hibs and Dodds is adamant they can;t afford to look beyond to the Basque country.
“As a member of staff and being a former player, you can’t think of things like that. It would be crazy. If you take your eyes off Aberdeen and the size of the fixture it is, it would be naive and stupid and I stand by that.”
“We need to go full out, whoever we play and whatever team we pick, we need to go full out,” he said. "It's Aberdeen we’re playing. It’s as big as Bilbao.
“We want to beat every team we’ve played and there have been some disappointments, so we know how that feels. But Aberdeen, we’ve got to win.”
This Rangers team has at least shown they can turn it on in between the big occasions - at Celtic Park of all places. Dodds added: “We’ve got to take so much confidence from Thursday night and we did the last time in Europe. We went to Celtic Park and everybody wrote us off.
“Performances like that bring you energy reserves and that’s what we’re going to need when we face Aberdeen.”