Gordon Strachan believes that Rangers have to beat Celtic when the two sides next meet to retain any hopes of winning the Scottish Premiership.
The Gers now sit eight points behind their Glasgow rivals after a dour 0-0 draw with St. Johnstone this weekend, and former national team manager Strachan is under no illusion as to what Steven Gerrar’s side need to do when the two clubs clash on March 31st.
Speaking to talkSPORT, as quoted by the Scottish Sun, he said: “They have to win. There’s times in the big game up there that you just have to win.
“It doesn’t matter how you do it, you have to win. A draw I don’t think is any use to Rangers at this point.
“Strange things can happen but if you look at Celtic’s preparations, the way they’ve played over the last few years with Brendan, they’re not going to lose that many points.”
OPINION
Strachan is right, but even a Rangers win might not be enough to derail things for the Hoops now. When the Gers registered that fine 1-0 win over their Glaswegian rivals back in December, and then backed it up with some tasty transfer dealings in January, there was a feeling that, if they played their cards right, they could make a real go of this title challenge. Instead, they have floundered since coming back from the winter break, and the 0-0 draw this weekend will only compound the feeling that the title is Celtic’s to be lost. Even if Rangers can beat Celtic in March, and that is a big if. They would still be five points off the pace. That’s five points to be made up between now and the end of the season assuming that the Gers don’t drop anymore points. At the moment, that is unimaginable, and with every passing game they seem to look shakier and shakier. The chances are slim and the signs aren’t good.