My only concern iits wGehresn h tahveey ’ sv*e* * got to this stage but they look stronger this time and a win will see league done & dusted
Kennedy confident Gers have bottle
ranGerS enjoyed Old Firm new Year cheer at Ibrox the last time they stopped Celtic’s 10-in-arow bid with a derby win.
The Light Blues still had plenty to do despite that 3-0 triumph 46 years ago sending Jock Wallace’s men top on goal difference.
However, one of the heroes of that historic season reckons their work for this one will be done because defeat would leave Neil Lennon’s men with no way back in the title race.
Goalkeeper Stewart Kennedy was one of only two ever-presents for Rangers, along with Sandy Jardine, in the 1974-75 campaign.
Victory in the festive derby clash was key, with Derek Johnstone, Tommy McLean and Derek Parlane on target for Wallace’s side. It marked only Celtic’s second league defeat of the season, their previous loss also coming against their arch rivals.
But Rangers didn’t look back as they stayed on top in the run-in to win the title with four games to spare.
Steven Gerrard’s side go into tomorrow’s clash 16 points ahead, albeit having played three games more than the champions.
And victory at Ibrox would be enough to seal the title in the eyes of former shotstopper Kennedy.
The former Scotland keeper, now 71, told Record Sport: “We went top of the league with that 3-0 win and never looked back.
“But we were only ahead on goal difference. The current team have the luxury of a much bigger gap and I hope it’s increased further by full-time.
“My only slight concern is they have s** t it when they’ve got to this stage previously but they seem to have a different mentality this time.
“Look, nobody will admit it but if Rangers win at Ibrox then the league will be done and dusted. It’s the old saying about it being better to have the points in the bag.
“But even allowing for Celtic winning their three games in hand, a victory on Saturday would still be a 10-point lead for Rangers.
“If you take into account the superior goal difference then you’re talking about Rangers losing four games and Celtic winning every single game. I just can’t see it happening.”
While Gerrard has talked about Gers fans being obsessed with stopping 10 in a row, Kennedy doesn’t recall it being as big a deal almost half a century ago.
The keeper moved to Ibrox from Stenhousemuir and served mainly as a back-up to Peter McCloy.
But injury opened the door for him to play every game in that historic season.
He added: “I have to be
y will Nobod they it butif admit Ibroxthe winat will be league dusted doneand BELIEVES KENNED Y T STEWAR CANSEE HISOLDTEAM IN OUTRUN
honest and say that I can’t remember it being as big a deal then as it is now, or when Celtic stopped Rangers achieving it in 1998.
“It’s maybe because Celtic’s run in the 1970s was the first time nine in a row was achieved. The fact we stopped them getting the 10 has probably made it a bigger deal in the two occasions since.
“But the one thing that sticks out in my mind from that season was travelling home from a game one day with my wife Elaine and my father Andy. Derek Johnstone was in the car in front of us at Moodiesburn.
“We stopped at traffic lights and Derek put his head through the sunroof and started singing the old Pilot song, ‘Whoa oh oh it’s magic, you know, it’ll never be 10 in a row’. My dad, who passed away four years ago at the age of 91, was a right bluenose and we were killing ourselves laughing at big DJ.
“That was my breakthrough season and it was great to be a part of it. Big Petereter was injured and I was the first choice for pre-season and kept my place throughout.
“I played 42 games in all competitionsions that season and onlynly myself and Sandy Jardinedine were ever-present.
“I was a big fan so it was great to be a part of it because ause I would have paid aid to play for Rangers, s, never mind d them paying me.” Current
No.1 Allan McGregor, in his second spell at Ibrox, made his 400th appearance for the club in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory at St MMirren as they made it 13 lealeague wins on the trot. A month shoshort of his 39th birthday, his experience has been vitavital to Gerrard’s men andan Kennedy said: “AAllan has been a revelationrev since he cameca back. “He has proprogressed so mmuch since hhe went out oon loan at DuDunfermline and St Johnstone in his eaearly days. He’s in his late 30s but has been exceptional.exc “HopeHopefully he has a few more years left in him yet.”