FORMER caretaker boss Barry Ferguson insists the Ibrox side must take advantage of Celtic who “may have been creating their own problems” to cut the champions’ six-point advantage in Premiership.
The club’s one-time captain, who was brought in after Philippe Clement was sacked in February, is urging Russell Martin’s players to give their city rivals “even more to worry about” with an interesting weekend ahead for both clubs.
The new Govan boss is looking for his first league win at the fifth attempt on Saturday as they host a Hearts team sitting just behind Celtic at the top of the league on goal difference with both teams on 10 points.
Brendan Rodgers takes his players to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock on their notorious Rugby Park plastic pitch 24 hours later.
WATCHING BRIEF…Brendan Rodgers looks on during Celtic’s goalless draw at Ibrox.
Ferguson took in the recent scoreless stalemate between the clubs at Ibrox and admitted: “To say it was a tough watch is an understatement.
“But, even so, Rangers made sure the gap didn’t become nine points on that Sunday. And even though I hate to admit it, I probably would’ve taken that before kick-off.
“Two weeks on, the picture feels different. Russell Martin has the chance to hit the reset button. What Rangers can’t afford to do is take their eye off the ball because of what’s been going on the last couple of weeks on the other side of the street.
“Yes, there’s clearly something going on at Celtic. I don’t know why that is or who is to blame, but I do know it doesn’t feel like a happy place right now. And there’s probably more unrest to come.
“But so what? I’m not even lapping up any of it as a Rangers fan because it’s none of my business.
HEADS, I WIN…Reo Hatate gets in before Connor Barron to thump in an effort.
“And it’s certainly nothing to do with the players inside Russell’s dressing room. Rangers have plenty of their own problems to sort out and that’s the way I would be thinking if I was one of those players.”
Ferguson, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “You can’t afford to be pointing a finger at your rivals when there’s so much hard work to be done to get your own house in order.
“If they’re distracted by Celtic’s issues, they’re not going to be focused on the job in hand. Dangerous at the best of times, never mind when you’re six points off the pace.
“The only thing you can do is to try to apply some pressure on them from the outside and see how they cope with it.
“Win on Saturday and the gap is three points, with Celtic facing a tricky trip to Kilmarnock’s difficult playing surface on Sunday.
“They may have been creating their problems over the last fortnight. But now it’s up to Rangers to step up and give them even more to worry about on the other side of town.”
