This Saturday fourth-placed Greenock Morton come to Ibrox. The following Saturday Rangers are whisked off to Falkirk, before Championship title rivals Hibernian travel to Govan on the 28th.
In short, 16 days which, in all likelihood, will determine the destiny of the title.
Those three sides are, in exact reverse order at the time of writing, the fourth, third and second-placed clubs in the Scottish Championship, and are the biggest obstacles to Rangers outright winning the league.
Mark Warburton’s men have a three-point gap – a sign of the mild loss of form suffered over October and November where instead of a win at Easter Road granting Rangers an-11 point lead, defeat meant it was whittled down to zero before the postponed Dumbarton fixture gave the Ibrox men a little breathing room.
Hibernian themselves likewise have a tough 16 days, hosting Falkirk then Queen of the South before they hit the M8 to Ibrox, so it is no understatement that how the Championship’s top two do over their respective next three matches will almost certainly define who wins the league.
Many put great stock in the potential top of the table decider on the 28th, but Falkirk away is a dark horse for Rangers’ biggest test. Peter Houston’s men played some excellent football at Ibrox, and while Rangers ran out ultimately deserving winners, their only defeat at Falkirk Stadium this season in the league was to Hibs and Warburton will not be taking three points for granted.
Morton, in theory, should be a given three points as even during Rangers’ two-month ‘slump’ they were the one side the Light Blues still rolled over with ease – away from home at that.
But Hibs at home and Falkirk away will be the big two, the tough cookies.
A massive positive for Warbs is his team have just started to creak into gear again – while some of the football is still struggling a little to break down defences, that it is eight goals in two matches with none conceded gives Rangers a lot of confidence after the disappointing draw at Almondvale, or ‘Tony Macaroni Arena’, as it is called these days.
So they head into this colossal period in fairly decent nick, and it seems pretty clear that these 16 days will have a massive say on who will be crowned champions this season.
Very well balanced professional journalist piece, but in reality bro-berrs, can't see a problem. gonna scoosh it!
spot on mate once we splash the cash all 30 million of it no one will get near us in king we trust
Just noticed how the poster's name reads if you put her two names together.
There's plenty more football to play after xmas, like the gaffer and players keep saying "our focus is the game on Saturday". We're in a strong position and I am confident we'll win the league, but it shall not be decided by the next sixteen days, influenced yes. Hibs are making it competitive which can only be a good thing as we look to hit the ground running against SPL opposition next year. The club is finally paying back the support with an exciting brand of football and positive vision/model for the future, I'm absolutely delighted with our progress since Warburton took charge (on and off the field). 🙂
Yes,, I agree with Keith. This league certainly wont be decided in the next sixteen days. A lot of points to be won and lost. At the moment, we look like dropping more points than Hibs at the moment because other teams dont park the bus against them as they do us. In the final third we need to start burying those easy chances and killing off teams earlier. We need a strong and lethal striker. Those are things that Mark Warbuton has already identified and confident he fix this come January. Every single game is important, not just those in the next sixteen days.
You seem to be dismissing the possibility that the Chairman could be spending Xmas in jail which, fortunately for him, will be a great excuse for not providing the promised war chest.
It's almost as if he's put himself in trouble intentionally.
This will give the board the opportunity to have a vote of confidence in his leadership and remove him post haste before it's too late….if not already!
Regan can then reconvene his board to reverse the F&P decision in the hope that Ashley halts the legal process before the SFA 's dodgy business is put out there for all to see……………
Troll alert
Away back to your green and white diminished hordes, young bhoy.
Hibs will bottle it towards the end of the season as per usual…. Without Cummons they are no more than an average side and i would bet my house on Cummons being sold in January. On the opposite hand, Rangers will strengthen in January and will pull away at the top of the league….regardless of the result on the 28th
I am a Hibs fan and I can acknowledge we usually bottle it, but your wrong about my team.
We aren't a one man team, quite often he is actually like Kris Boyd in that he does nothing for 89 minutes then gets a tap in.
McGinn is currently our best player and I'd be more worried about him leaving.
If Keatings stays fit, he could easily have a better goals per game ratio than Cummings.
Do you all read the rubbish written by Jackson, Lindsay, Jack, Ralston and the rest of the discredited MSSM.
They are a joke.
Have you not for even a minute contemplated King going to jail tomorrow……just because Jacko says so.
The same eejit that introduced you to guy with wealth off the radar!
King and the entire board will be suspended with regards to their gerrymandering of the recent AGM votes.
This will have no impact on King, given his previous exposure to the courts.
It will however have a huge impact on the reputation and professional standing of the rest of them……..fact.
Troll alert again
Amazing that Timmy knows so much about the legal system. I suppose he will have a lot of time whilst collecting the dole and/or benefits.
Good times ahead Bears! Meaningful games, a promising squad, entertaining football, tough opposition – loving this season 🙂 Good article, keep it up
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