Worried Broadfoot thinks Rangers benefit from playing at an empty Ibrox
Kilmarnock defender Kirk Broadfoot fears Rangers will be more dangerous than ever after being released from the shackles of the Ibrox boo boys.
The Govan atmosphere during Old Firm clashes and big European nights is famed for its rousing effect on the home team. but having 50,000 empty seats has made little difference to Steven Gerrard’s team so far this campaign.
They host Broadfoot’s Killie today and the Ayrshire side will be looking to frustrate the league leaders in the same way Livingston managed last weekend at the Tony Macaroni Arena as a goalless draw ended their 100 per cent record.
But the former Rangers defender knows from experience that while the Ibrox crowd can spur their team to new heights, they also have the tendency to cause weaker characters to shrink when things are not going so well.
Killie have played on those groans to deny the hosts victory four times from their last six trips to Ibrox but freed from that burden by the coronavirus lockdown, Broadfoot fears Rangers will prove too strong in their empty stadium.
“I’m not sure Sunday’s display gives us too much hope considering the way they’ve played at Ibrox this season,” Broadfoot said.
“Rangers are a very good side who can take four or five off anyone on their day. We’ll aim to frustrate them but I think having no crowd will actually help Rangers if I’m honest. I know from experience how the fans at Ibrox can turn on you if you are not one-up by the first half hour. The Rangers support are a demanding crowd. It’s like that for both sides of the Old Firm. To be frank, you have to have a set of balls. You can’t shy away or worry about mistakes.
“So far this season, with no fans there to give them that big groan when things don’t go well, then I think they’ve been very good in the two home games I’ve seen.”