Rangers face a pivotal week in the Scottish Premiership title race as they trail Celtic by four points, with a trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts looming. The gap could widen to nine or ten points if results go against them, echoing the collapse that ended their hopes in previous seasons.
Historical Context: The 2020/21 Title Success
Steven Gerrard's Rangers side won the title in the 2020/21 season with a record 102 points, finishing 25 points clear of Celtic. That campaign was marked by an unbeaten league run and a crucial victory at Rugby Park just after Hallowe'en, which opened a nine-point gap over their rivals.
That win, secured by a James Tavernier penalty, came after Celtic's matches were postponed due to Boli Bolingoli's breach of Covid quarantine guidelines. The defender had flown to Spain without telling the club and failed to isolate on return, prompting action from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The Current Challenge
Now, Rangers face a similar test. Derek McInnes' side have played before Celtic this weekend due to their lack of European football, but with Celtic out of the Premier Sports Cup, they face Falkirk on Sunday while Rangers meet Aberdeen at Hampden.
If Rangers fail to take maximum points at Tynecastle and Celtic beat Dundee United at home, the Hoops could move nine or ten points clear before Rangers play their next Premiership match. That scenario would leave Rangers firmly behind in the rear view mirror.
Lessons from the Past
The 2020/21 season showed how quickly a title race can slip away. After the Rugby Park victory, Rangers won their next three matches 8-0, 4-0, and 4-0, while Celtic drew two of their next three and later suffered an Old Firm defeat and three successive draws. Celtic went trophyless for the first time since 2010.
For Rangers, the lesson is clear: maintaining momentum is crucial. If the car behind is forced to hit the brakes, the leader only needs to keep its own speed.
