Chris Sutton has praised Rangers boss Philippe Clement while warning Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Hoops were defeated 2-1 by Kilmarnock, which blew open the title race as Gers managed to defeat Dundee.The distance between the two Old Firm rivals has shrunk to just five points, with Rangers having a game in hand.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, as quoted by the Daily Record, Sutton said: “There are worrying signs as far as I can see and I don’t think the fanbase are fooled by what’s going on. The biggest worry at the weekend is that you can lose matches in many ways; you can be outplayed by a team but you can’t be outrun or outfought. That’s what Kilmarnock did. Celtic seemed to freeze and show a fear. The truth is, domestically, that absolutely shouldn’t happen.
“Brendan’s talked about bringing more quality in in January. But Celtic have their model; it’s a development model and we all understand what that model is because they can’t compete with Premier League teams and spend that sort of money.
“Hatate’s been out long term, their most dynamic midfielder. Carter-Vickers was out injured at the weekend, so there are reasons for that. But this is Celtic, this is domestic football. They should be able to cope and I think there’s a bit of patience running out.
“Also, Rangers have the opportunity of winning the first trophy next weekend so I wouldn’t underestimate that. On the other side of the city, Rangers have a manager in place now who seems half sensible, which is a bit of a worry.”
Up the ante
Sutton praising a Rangers manager instead of his usual digs at them, suggests that he’s feeling the heat, being a Celtic fan.
Gers take on their arch rivals on 30 December and victory in that game would make them favourites for the SPFL title going into the new year if the gap still remains the same until then.
Sutton’s confidence perhaps stems from both on-field performance and the positive dynamics under Clement, making Rangers supporters optimistic about their team’s chances in the crucial set of upcoming fixtures.
The recent string of impressive performances, coupled with Celtic’s unexpected stumble, has injected a renewed sense of optimism among the Ibrox faithful.
The arrival of Clement as a manager who commands respect, coupled with the unity and fighting spirit displayed by the players, adds to the positive atmosphere.
With the upcoming Old Firm clash and the chance to secure the first trophy of the season, Rangers fans have genuine reasons to believe in a successful campaign, making this a thrilling and promising chapter in the club’s history.
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