Kranjcar puts title thoughts on hold

Niko Kranjcar reckons Rangers should put thoughts of a title challenge to the back of their minds until Christmas.

Gers avoided registering their worst start to a league campaign since 1989 with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Partick Thistle.

The victory – just their third of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign so far – moves the Light Blues up to fifth. But they remain seven points adrift of rampant leaders Celtic, who have a game in hand.

Mark Warburton’s Ibrox side were expected to mount a stiff challenge to Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops on their return to the top flight, but Croatian playmaker Kranjcar now says his side should put that matter on the back-burner for the next few months.

The former Tottenham and QPR midfielder– Gers’ standout performer against Thistle – said: “I think at the moment we shouldn’t think about it. I think we should think about winning the next game…

“We can talk come Christmas where we are in the title race.”

Kranjcar has struggled to reach peak fitness since returning to the UK this summer after a stint with New York Cosmos.

He gave flashes of his brilliant best against Thistle, scoring a sensational opener when he danced his way into the box after 33 minutes before crashing the ball into the roof of the net.

But he still had to make way with 18 minutes remaining as he ran out of steam.

Andy Halliday put the result beyond Alan Archibald’s team with Rangers’ second goal five minutes from half-time.

Saturday’s defeat leaves Thistle rooted to the bottom of the table after six league games without a win.

Picture: SNS. Niko Kranjcar opens the scoring.