Barry Ferguson has issued a stark warning to Rangers by saying that Saturday’s Premiership clash against Hearts at Ibrox is their last chance to keep this season’s title race alive.
Rangers currently sit nine points behind Celtic in the Premiership table, and face fifth-placed Hearts in a crucial home clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Light Blues are coming in off the back of a 5-3 away win over Hamilton Academical last weekend, which saw them gain ground on Celtic who played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with St. Johnstone.
Celtic face a massive clash on Sunday against third-placed Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and if results go the right way for the Gers they could be sitting just six points behind the Hoops by the end of the weekend.
In a column for the Daily Record, Ferguson said: “Rangers must grasp the chance to pile the pressure on Celtic this weekend or talk of a title challenge is over for another year. Rangers have the best record on the road in the Premiership this season, but a failure to win more than six games from 13 at Ibrox should really have compromised their championship ambitions by now.
“They have failed to ask questions of Celtic on at least three occasions already, with home defeats against Hamilton, St Johnstone and Hibs leading to frustration among fans about how much closer they could have been to the top. Realistically, their game against Hearts tomorrow afternoon represents their last chance to lay down a marker to Celtic ahead of Brendan Rodgers taking his team to Aberdeen 24 hours later.
“If Rangers win and Celtic slip up against the Dons, they could be just six points behind the reigning champions heading into the business end of the season. Aberdeen fans will also point out a victory for their side will also take them to within two wins of the summit and finally give us a title race worthy of its name.”
OPINION
Ferguson is spot on here. If Rangers come away from the Hearts clash with anything less than a win, then they can wave goodbye to their title hopes for another year. The good news is that Celtic look ripe for the taking at the moment after their 0-0 draw with Saints last weekend and their devastating Europa League exit to Zenit St. Petersburg on Thursday night. If there was ever a time to reignite the title race, this is it, but Rangers do have form of letting important games slip away this year, and they must buck that trend on Saturday.