Worrall: Old Firm derby win was weight off our shoulders
● Ibrox side have proved title credentials
0 Joe Worrall, left, and fellow defender Connor Goldson celebrate Rangers’ win over Celtic. Joe Worrall says a weight has been lifted from Rangers’ shoulders after the Ibrox side finally wrestled free of Brendan Rodgers’ Old Firm grip.
And now clear of the doubts that have dragged them down, the defender expects Rangers to go on and challenge Celtic for the title the club’s faithful have been longing for.
Rodgers had reigned supreme in Glasgow since taking over in 2016, going undefeated through his first 12 derby clashes as his dominant outfit chalked up a massive 31-6 aggregate score.
But his unblemished run was halted last month when Steven Gerrard’s pumped-up outfit claimed a precious 1-0 triumph to draw level at the top of the table with the sevenin-a-row champions.
Two weeks on, Worrall is still buzzing from his side’s victory and hopes to maintain the feelgood factor all the way to the championship finishing line.
Speaking to Rangerstv from the club’s Tenerife training camp, he said: “It was crazy and really hard to describe the feeling, walking out onto the pitch and then leaving it after the win was incredible. I’ll never forget that game.
“The atmosphere, the fans, the goal Ryan Jack scored and the tackles – I put in a few meaty ones – but it was just brilliant and everyone really played well that day.
“We knew we were capable of doing it. I think we went out there with all guns blazing and we should have scored three or four goals in my opinion. It was not so much relief, just a real sense of achievement for the people that had doubted us and for the draws and silly mistakes and losses that we have had as a team.
“I think we proved that we can do it against Celtic, who are our main title contenders this year.”
Worrall, who turns 22 today, added: “All the lads were saying ‘You wait until the Old Firm game’ and I was like ‘Yeah, yeah’ and you take every game as it comes. But that day was incredible. Just the whole aura about it and around the city afterwards. It was incredible and I’ll never forget it.
“It was massive and you can see from the reaction. It was a massive game but Rangers fans and obviously the players that have been here have been hurting for the last few years. It was just like a weight off the shoulders. After that game to go away home and see your friends and family and have a bit of a party, I think it was perfect timing for us and everyone enjoyed it.”
Gerrard is refusing to stand still after that win, however, and has looked to strengthen his squad in anticipation of the battle ahead. Former club captain Steven Davis has returned from Southampton, while the Rangers boss has also persuaded his old England teammate, Jermain Defoe, pictured, to move north.
On-loan Nottingham Forest defender Worrall believes the veteran duo can make a difference for Rangers.
“It’s massive, they are two big players. Defoe is a goalscorer and Davis has been here before and knows what it is about.
“That’s what we’ve been crying out for, some experience in the dressing room. I’m not saying that we didn’t have that, but to add more is brilliant and I’m looking forward to playing with them.” Former Hearts defender Jimmy Dunne has completed his loan move to Sunderland. Ex-tynecastle coach Jack Ross has moved to snap up the 21-year-old after Hearts failed to negotiate an extension to his loan from Burnley.
The defender, pictured, made 14 appearances for Craig Levein’s men and covered for injured club captain Christophe Berra earlier this season, but his time at Tynecastle came to a premature end after suffering an ankle knock in training in November.
Dunne said: “I’m very excited to be here at Sunderland. I’m looking to step up and keep developing my game. This is a good place for me to do that.”