Title Challengers?

[Super_Ally 0]

Right now the SPL title does not make happy viewing for us. After an impressive start to the domestic season, including the 4-2 win at Parkhead in the opening Old Firm game of this season, we still find ourselves trailing Celtic by 4 points thanks to a series of disappointing dropped points.

 

A substandard performance at Love Street lead to 3 points dropped. This was closely followed by one of the games of the season in a 3-3 draw with Dundee United in which an uncharacteristically generous display by the back line led to further 2 more dropped points, with the same outcome at Fir Park the following midweek.

 

With a less hectic fixture schedule to navigate this season, Smith must ensure that we avoid any more of these slip ups if we are to regain our league title. With Smith's record against our greatest rivals being almost as good as it was during his first reign, if we are to take advantage of the next Old Firm game being at Ibrox and cut the deficit by 3 points (as we have every right to expect) then we need to ensure no more lapses in form and concentration in the 4 fixtures between now and that December the 27th clash.

 

It is by no means an easy run of games. First up is Hearts at Tynecastle this week and as ascender's preview shows, a win there is by no means a foregone conclusion. We ran out 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture this season, but the points were only secured by an injury time Kris Boyd penalty. On top of our game we should leave Gorgie to take the 3 points back across the M8, but our players will need to produce a disciplined and clinical display.

 

Next up are Hamilton and the squad should be confident of emerging victorious after back to back wins over the Lanarkshire club in October. A tricky away trip to Tannadice will be next up and seeing as Dundee United were the first club to leave Ibrox with anything other than a defeat since October of last year it is clear we will need to produce our best form to secure the points and maintain our push for the title.

 

Our midfield has struggled to dominate games against the Arabs over the last year and a half and Ferguson and Mendes will have to produce a more cohesive display at Tannadice if we are to defeat what is becoming a routinely difficult encounter for Smith's squad.

 

In the penultimate game before the key Old Firm clash, the final fixture of 2008, Hibs are the visitors to Ibrox. Hibs recent form has been up and down, but after thumping last year's third placed side Motherwell 4-1 away from home, it is obvious they have the players to trouble any side on their day.

 

No disrespect to bottom club Hamilton, but aside from the home fixture against Billy Reid's side, you would not consider any of the other matches as a banker victory. If we are to ensure we are in position to take advantage of the Old Firm encounter we will have to earn every victory between now and the festive fixture.

 

Celtic's corresponding fixtures over the same period appear a little less treacherous to negotiate. Allied to their 11 game winning streak, their last dropped points being inflicted in the 4-2 Old Firm humiliation and the importance of the next 4 fixtures becomes clear.

 

It is hard to see anything other than a home victory this weekend as ICT make the long journey south. Though the Highland club have taken maximum points from the last 2 away fixtures, Celtic at Parkhead are a different proposition, especially when you cannot account for impartiality from the officials.

 

Celtic begin December with a visit from Hibs, and as I have stated Hibs can trouble anyone on their day. They will fancy their chances more at their own place against Celtic than when they have to make the trip to Glasgow to face Rangers at Ibrox.

 

Celtic have the minor inconvenience of a dead rubber against Villarreal to try and restore some pride from their catastrophic Champions League adventure before Hearts travel to Parkhead. In a reverse to the Hibs fixtures over the next month or so, whilst Celtic get to entertain Hearts at home whilst we make the journey to Edinburgh and I would argue that an going to Tynecastle is a tougher fixture than travelling to Easter Road, as supported by the club's league positions.

 

Celtic round off their pre-Christmas fixtures with a trip to Falkirk and will be confident of returning to Glasgow with the spoils. Whilst both sides have tricky trips to the capital to deal with the added menace of an away clash against Dundee Utd suggests we have the more perilous fixtures.

 

Considering Celtic's ominous form in the league and relatively easier fixtures, Smith cannot contemplate any more dropped points between now and the crunch clash on the 27th.

 

Four victories and a 2nd Old Firm victory of the season and we may just find out how this Celtic team copes with the pressure of a Rangers juggernaut intent on winning a 52nd title.

[calscot 0]

To have a great chance of winning the league you should be aiming for about 94 points minimum. That mean you can drop 20. We've dropped 9 so if we win the next 4 games we'll be doing ok for the half way point. We can't drop any points in about the next 8 games if we have title aspirations.

 

Every time I see Celtic they look like they are struggling but get the lucky, late goal or poor refereeing decision. I think they are riding their luck and it's bound to run out sometime when they will have a bad run - unless of course they actually sort themselves out and improve significantly.

 

A lot of winners of competitions ride their luck early on until they find their best form which is needed to finish off the tournament.

[Tannochsidebear 2,406]

The away games will be the deciding factor in the league as usual.

 

The difficult away games is where we lost the league last season, with only one win from the 10 away games against the other top 6 sides.

 

This is what we must correct this season to clinch the title. We started well enough against sheepy where only the linesman cheated us out of the maximum, we have won at the piggery and easter rd and were again cheated by the linesman at Motherwell.

 

We must win these games, and stay in touch before we can beat them again on Dec 27.

 

If we lose tomorrow, the shadow of four in a row will be looming largely over us.

[Super_Ally 0]

So that's 8 from 12 away at top 6 sides this year?

 

Would be maximum points but for the officials too. Great!

 

As I say, with Celtic's current league form and a realtively easy run of games we have to take maximum points in the next 4 fixture.Then it is up to us to do the business in the Old Firm with hom advantage and at worst we would be a single point behind them. If they slip up between now ant the 27th then we could potentially storm back to the top of the table in that game. That's the carrot dangling in front of us and should be used to motivate the players in the remaining 5 fixtures of the year.

[calscot 0]

I can't see us losing to Celtic at Ibrox but I can see a draw on the cards... I can definitely see them dropping more points than us to the rest of the spl though...

[Super_Ally 0]

True, we can't take a win for granted, and a draw is a possibility. Wont contemplate a loss.

 

I'm glad someone sees them dropping more points than us elsewhere and hope that rings true as I think the "clever money" is on us slipping up.

 

With their 12th, 13th and 14th man we are more vulnerable.

[Gribz 850]

Well todays result certainly dents us!!

[carldvelle 0]

If sell tick do achieve 4 in a row,Rangers must take the credit for it.

[maineflyer 0]

I can't see us losing to Celtic at Ibrox but I can see a draw on the cards... I can definitely see them dropping more points than us to the rest of the spl though...

 

"You can definitely see them dropping more points than us to the rest of the SPL though" ....... do you think that, in light of the facts, it's time to let a little reality into the equation.

 

Wishful thinking is like a drug, it gets in the way of rational judgement. Rangers WILL drop more points that them to the rest of the SPL. The reasons are beyond obvious.

[Super_Ally 0]

Well that was a cracking start to a difficult run of games.

 

The only solace being that that should have been the most difficult one.

 

4 points was too big a gap though.