‘Really interesting’… Neil Lennon sends Rangers a warning before they face Celtic this month
With all the chat this week surrounding Celtic and their transfer business, it’s easy to forget that there is a game against Rangers coming up.
Ok, forget is a bit of a stretch but you catch the drift. The New Year Glasgow Derby is a pivotal match that could determine whether or not Celtic have a genuine title challenge.
With eight points separating both clubs (with Rangers having a game in hand), Celtic are in a good place heading into the game at the end of the month.
Which has prompted Neil Lennon to issue the Ibrox club a warning if they have designs on winning the Scottish Premiership this season.
Lennon said [PLZ Soccer], “You never know Celtic might drop points. They’re not looking like they’re they’re going to run away with anything at the minute.
“So it’s going to be really interesting period coming up but you’re right, I don’t think there’s a margin for error for Rangers.
“And it becomes really tiring when you’re chasing it all the time as well.”
The Celtic and Rangers December fixtures where points could be dropped
Celtic have seven fixtures in December and Rangers need to negotiate eight due to the Viaplay Cup Final on the 17th of December.
However, the risk of dropping points is greater for the Ibrox side than it is for Celtic. Phillipe Clement’s side takes on Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow night whilst Celtic are at home to Hibs.
After that Celtic face an away trip to Kilmarnock and Rangers face Dundee at home. Brendan Rodgers then has three home fixtures to contend with against Hearts, Livingston and Rangers. Sandwiched between the Derby and the clash with David Martindale’s men is an away trip to Dens Park.
After Rangers face Dundee on the 9th of December, they don’t play another SPFL fixture until the 20th when they complete their game in hand and face St Johnstone at Ibrox.
Should Celtic win all their games up to that date, Brendan Rodgers‘ side could be eleven points clear. Rangers would have to win their game in hand against St Johnstone to reduce that gap before they come to Celtic Park.
But before that, Clement must travel to Motherwell and entertain Ross County so they really have it all to do before the Glasgow Derby.
If Celtic wins the derby, the eleven-point gap will be restored. So the pressure really is on Clement’s side to get that home win against Craig Levein’s side and win all their games leading up to the big clash.
The title could effectively be over before Rangers come calling which is why Lennon is correct. The Ibrox club really can’t afford to slip up at any point this month.
