McGHEE CAN SEE A SHIFT IN THE BALANCE OF POWER NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE BORDER
MARK McGHEE believes t here are striking parallels in the race for the title on either side of the border and insists the unfancied runners — his former clubs Aberdeen and Leicester City — can prevail.
Motherwell manager McGhee feels the events of this week have reinforced the view that a quite extraordinary double is now possible after Aberdeen closed the gap on Celtic to three points and Leicester retained that advantage in England’s top flight.
He is certain, however, that there will not have been a gambler in the land who placed that wager at the start of the season.
McGhee, who managed both clubs and starred for Aberdeen in their golden years, said: ‘In the sense that both of them are so unfancied, there are similarities.
‘Everybody thought Aberdeen would be at that end of the table, of course, but I don’t think many people thought it would be as close at this point.
‘So there are comparisons and it would be a great double — I don’t know if there will be anybody anywhere with a bet on that double before a ball was kicked.
‘Both teams still have an awful lot to do to win their titles but they are in the running.’
Aberdeen can draw level with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier ship by beating St Johnstone tomorrow, while the Foxes face the stiffest of examinations of t heir title credentials at Manchester City.
McGhee feels there are similarities between the two clubs although he reckons Hearts can’t be dismissed from the equation in Scotland.
‘I think Aberdeen and Hearts have been in the title race all along. I said it to Robbie Neilson after we played Hearts. I became more convinced after that,’ said McGhee.
‘I told him that I couldn’t see why they can’t roll up their sleeves and have a go. Both of them can go the distance with Celtic.
‘I don’t think what Leicester are doing is that different from Aberdeen. Celtic have a big advantage over all of us, including Aberdeen, for all the reasons that we know. So anyone who can bridge that gap is doing something right.
‘Leicester, and the style they are doing it in, are extraordinary. What you do need to achieve what they are doing is a goalscorer and they have found one in Jamie Vardy.
‘If you have someone scoring the goals he’s scoring, then you have a chance of winning games and the rest of the players behind him seem to be solid. They are a model for the rest of us in terms of organisation and determination.
‘There is not a person outside of the clubs at the top of the table who doesn’t want Leicester to win it. Everyone else would love to see it happen. Certainly, I would.’
St Johnstone counterpart Tommy Wright, whose side host Aberdeen in Perth tomorrow, is another who insists the Aberdeen title challenge is the real deal.
After watching the Dons narrow the gap at the top to just three points with their 2-1 midweek win over Celtic, Wright maintains Derek McInnes and his squad will benefit from chasing Celtic last term. And he pointed out under-pressure Ronny Deila and his players are entering uncharted territory.
‘Aberdeen are trying to put as much pressure as they can on Celtic,’ said Wright. ‘It will be interesting if it becomes really tight because Celtic haven’t experienced a tight title race and the pressure could revert back on to them more if Aberdeen stay in touch.
‘In recent years Celtic have won the league at a canter but it doesn’t look like that this season.
‘They started the game very well and looked a bit more composed. But Aberdeen got an incredible goal from Jonny Hayes.
‘Goals change games and they controlled it after that.
‘They could have scored three or four goals and fully deserved their win. It showed what a good side they are.
‘I know Hearts have signed well in the window but I feel Aberdeen are the club best equipped to challenge Celtic given Derek’s experience as a manager and the experience in the squad.
‘They look like they are going from strength to strength.’