Rangers make colossal title statement at Ibrox
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ryan Jack of Rangers battles for possession with Scott Pittman of Livingston FC during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Livingston at Ibrox Stadium on October 25, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It was all very well managing two astonishing wins v Celtic and Liege, but the real bread and butter importance, as Ibrox Noise’s Derek argued earlier, was winning today v Livi.
There were concerns this team didn’t have staying power, based on history, and that ‘johnny big shoes’ mentality might come in.
It was evident from the first whistle that Rangers manager Steven Gerrard wasn’t letting that happen, and when Joe Aribo’s first start for months yielded a fine goal on 8 minutes for the big Nigerian, this was pretty much a routine win.
Rangers have made a huge statement today.
After Celtic bottled it at Pittodrie, there was pressure at Ibrox to ensure we turned the screw even tighter.
And from James Tavernier’s worldie assist to Defoe’s even worldier goal, there was a clear steel about this side which just isn’t going to waver this season.
Celtic have bottled it a number of times already this campaign, and while Rangers have let it slip too, there’s something about the past few weeks since that blot at Easter Road which shows Rangers are learning.
And strolling this one so easily, so comfortably, even though we ‘only’ got the two goals, gives some idea of who the best team in Scotland is now.