So there’s mounting chaos unfolding out there as the coronavirus spreads but the football on these shores continues, for now, and it’s off to Govan we go on Sunday.
Between now and then Rangers are playing at home against Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in the Last 16 of the Europa League.
In fairness, they’ve had a fine campaign thus far but the draw could’ve been a little kinder to them.
Outside of Inter Milan and Man Utd, Leverkusen are probably the finest team left in the tournament and must fancy themselves as having a chance to win it.
They’re in fourth spot in the Bundesliga, eight points off the top having won seven and lost only one of their last nine league games and that solitary loss is their only defeat in thirteen games overall.
So formidable opposition and Rangers will be hoping their cow patch of a pitch will be a leveller. It really is in some state.
Then about 62 hrs later we visit them and I can’t imagine the pitch will be any better. Probably much worse if that’s possible.
Of course, the light blues have been in somewhat of a freefall since returning from the winter break.
Believing that the league title was in the bag and celebrating like they had actually won something after beating us at Celtic Park back in late December their form has nosedived domestically with three losses and two draws in their last ten league games scoring only eleven times in the process whilst conceding eight. Hardly title-winning form.
Indeed they’ve fallen thirteen points and 25 goals behind us which is truly incredible when you consider that going into the break they were equal with us on goal difference and only two points behind with a game in hand.
We’ve been incredibly consistent with nine wins and a draw in ten but still their regression has been truly spectacular.
Star man Alfredo Morelos hasn’t scored a league goal in three months as lurid details of his private life have spilt out into the public domain whilst Steven Davis’s legs have gone and Ryan Jack can’t buy fitness.
Their ÂŁ7 million attacker Ryan Kent has done some damage in big games but incredibly has provided zero assists on the league front all season which is pretty diabolical considering he’s a winger.
The likes of Nikola Katic who headed the winner against us back on December 29th has been well and truly thrown under the bus by his manager and his Ibrox career looks more or less over with the limited George Edmundson now being picked ahead of him.
Europe has been their saviour with an incredible comeback win against Braga who they eventually saw off 4-2 on aggregate to progress from the Last 32 stage where we faltered but hot on the heels of that they were eliminated from the Scottish Cup by bottom side Hearts.
We are the team in form, are scoring goals galore and steamrolling opposition, domestically at least, with the new 3-5-2 formation deployed since January allowing a front pairing of the sublime Odsonne Edouard and the back in from Leigh Griffiths who hit a hat-trick at the weekend against St.Mirren.
A win would put us 16 points clear and mean we were only three wins away from securing a ninth consecutive title.
In fact, it might not even require that considering the rate at which Rangers are haemorrhaging points.
As for Sunday, I’m highly optimistic and with good reason.
The respective teams form aside which are pretty much polar opposites at the moment, they should be physically and emotionally drained after Thursday.
Of course, it doesn’t always work out like that and we returned from our incredible UEFA cup triumphs over Bovaista and Barcelona in 2003 and 2004 respectively to beat Rangers at Ibrox only days later during ‘Beach Ball Sundays’.
Though this Rangers team has neither the personnel or the form that we did in those two seasons.
Celtic should be going to Ibrox though with a point to prove.
Our form has been imperious for most of the season but in our last two derby encounters we’ve barely shown up getting away with it in the League Cup final and then getting found out in the last league meeting.
The one worry is our defence which has been a bit ropey of late but with Hatem Elhamed returning to the fold hopefully, we’re a bit more solid.
We owe them one and if we’re up for it which there’s no reason we shouldn’t be then we can go at them all guns blazing and really put them in their place.
Tomorrow night could have a bearing in that if they get trounced then you may either see a reaction or a capitulation on Sunday though if they win it could either inspire or distract them from our visit.
Let’s see how that plays out first but ultimately it’s in our hands.
We’re the best team in the country and have been for nine years.
It’s high time we reminded them of that.
....Always A Tim! 