Alan Shearer reckons Rangers are OUT of the title race in Scotland as he called Aberdeen the ‘real deal’.
Philippe Clement and his troops are trailing Jimmy Thelin’s Dons and league leaders Celtic by six points after just eight games. The Light Blues had the perfect chance to make up ground on the top two after they played out a 2-2 draw at Parkhead last weekend. That opportunity to close the gap to just three points was missed as Kilmarnock dumped the Ibrox men 1-0 at Rugby Park to in fact extend the points difference between the leading duo and Rangers to six points.
Newcastle hero Shearer reckons it is already a mountain to climb for James Tavernier and Co – who face a trip to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie this coming midweek after back to back home games in the Europa League and against St Mirren. He told Betfair: “Rangers could well be out of the title race in Scotland now they are six points behind both Celtic and Aberdeen. That’s a big gap at any stage of the season in that league.
“We know that most of the time in Scotland, it’s Rangers vs Celtic, and whoever wins, it’s unacceptable for the other. But for Rangers to be that far behind after eight games means I would say they are out of the title race. The difference this season is you’ve got two teams going at it in both Celtic and Aberdeen, not just the usual one rival.
“Aberdeen are looking the real deal themselves, coming back from 2-0 down and nearly winning it against Celtic last weekend, so it looks a mountain to climb already for Rangers.”
Meanwhile, Rangers hero and Record Sport columnist Barry Ferguson has told the club close to his heart that the next four games are massive. He admitted ahead of Aberdeen’s trip to Celtic that he felt it would be business as usual from Brendan Rodgers’ men and that Aberdeen would not be challenging in the title shake-up – but after the draw, he says they have earned the respect.
He told Go Radio: “They are huge. Every game when you pull on a Rangers jersey is massive but these next three are huge for him. The first two you really are expected to win because you are home against Steaua and St Mirren on Sunday. Then you’ve got the tough trip up to Pittodrie next Wednesday.
“Before the game at the weekend when Aberdeen travelled down to Parkhead to play Celtic, I was thinking ‘nah I don’t think Aberdeen will be up challenging’. But now you have to give them the respect. They came to Parkhead and away with a point and showed me their mentality is bang on the button at this moment in time.
“The next three games are crucial. Every game is crucial for Rangers but certainly these three. Then you can put in the fourth one because it is the semi-final against Motherwell at Hampden. I am sure the manger knows how important these games are and I am sure, and would like to think the players do as well.”
Elsewhere, Willo Flood reckons Aberdeen have gelled faster than Rangers and look ahead of the Ibrox side currently. But he knows despite the pressure being ramped up on the Light Blues, they will have something to say at Pittodrie.
He told Gambling.com “Yeah it definitely looks that way. They look as if they’ve gelled a lot quicker than Rangers have at this moment in time. I’m sure when it comes to the game next week, Aberdeen vs. Rangers – Rangers will have something to say on the occasion.”
On Thelin, he added: “I think Jimmy Thelin has gone in and done a brilliant job. He had a decent squad of players, and brought in one or two in that have made a difference. I think that game on Saturday (against Celtic) has definitely helped them. I think the big thing with Jimmy Thelin was his appointment. Steven Gunn was a big factor in bringing Jimmy Thelin to the club, so he has to get a lot of credit as well.”