Walt: Gers can finish what they have started
WALTER SMITH believes Rangers are ready to finish what they’ve started and are relishing the challenge of winning the Premiership title.
But the Ibrox legend is convinced Steven
Gerrard will have drilled into his team that they have a FIVE-point lead over Celtic – not the gap of 11 that the table shows.
Gerrard’s men suffered a spectacular collapse in the second half of last season to gift Celtic a 13-point championship lead by mid-March and, ultimately, nine in a row.
Old Firm derby victories at the turn of the year in both of Gerrard and No.2 Gar y Mc A l l i s t e r ’ s campaigns in charge have proved to be false dawns as far as a title momentum is concerned.
With Celtic’s Holy Grail of 10 in a row on the line, Rangers have set a ferocious early pace – and Smith senses they mean business this time.
The former Gers boss said: “Results are good, everything is going well. If you look at them now, there’s a more confident air to the team.
“But the biggest thing in football, which is very much the challenge from a Rangers perspective, is the challenge to keep that going all the way.
“And Steven will accept that. The Rangers players now look as though they are ready for the challenge this season.”
But Smith is convinced Gerrard and his staff won’t be fooled by the wide gap back to second place.
He said: “It’s easy for everyone to turn round and say that Celtic are 11 points behind.
“But I have no doubt that Steven will consider that they are FIVE points in front with all due respect.”