Both Old Firm keepers are key inthetitlerace
There were contrasting fortunes for the Old Firm in Europe.
Rangers beat Sparta Prague to progress in the Europa League, but Celtic dropped down into the Europa Conference League, despite getting to the verge of a significant result away to Bayer Leverkusen.
What the two games taught us is just how significant both clubs’ keepers could be in the race for the Premiership title.
New rangers manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, had his goalkeeper, Allan McGregor, to thank for securing the 2-0 win he was looking for.
The Gers shot-stopper’s double save near the end of the game was outstanding.
And so were Joe Hart’s in Leverkusen. It was breathtaking.
It hammers home the importance of having a good goalkeeper.
That’s just part of the reason why I feel that the SPFL title race will go down to the
wire. It’s going to be very, very close.
I think Celtic will fancy their chances, and maybe feel that they have already had their stickiest patch of the season, and can go on a long, undefeated run.
The rest of Rangers’ campaign is a wee bit more of a guessing game.
Their new manager has still to settle in properly, and really get to know his players’ strengths and weaknesses.
There is no doubt there should be more to come from Rangers. They need to find the fluidity and rhythm they displayed in going last season unbeaten on their way to winning the title .
But they are still top of the league, and the target for the Giovanni will be to stay there and see off Celtic’s challenge.
That, however, will be easier said than done.
Indeed, it could well be that the destination of the title will come down to McGregor or Hart.
It’s going to be very interesting.