MURTY IS HOPING FOR A GAME CHANGER
A SHOCK victory over Celtic today could break down a major barrier standing between Rangers and a new era of success, according to Graeme Murty.
The Ibrox manager believes his players, staff and fans will benefit from a shift in belief gained by defeating the dominant rival and delaying a title party.
‘To win would be a massive step for them, a great step to take,’ said Murty. ‘That’s the mindset they have to have. We’ve an opportunity to go and measure ourselves against the guys who are probably going to go on and win the league. For three games out of four, we’ve been right in the mix with them.
‘If we can take another step past that, it would bode well. Not only for the climax to this season but also for these players taking that mindset into next season.
‘Getting a win would alter the mindset not only for the players, but possibly also the fans.
‘Take the Hampden game out of it. The last two at Parkhead and the last one at Ibrox, we were capable of winning. There are reasons we didn’t do it. We switched off, Craig Gordon’s good saves. But we were right in there with them.
‘The players have been hurt by things that have been written and said after Hampden. They were hurt by the way we played.
‘But I’ve seen stuff this week and in the game against Hearts that says we are heading towards the team that I know we can be.
‘We have to be capable of putting in a complete performance if we want to go and spoil their fun.’
Murty’s two trips to Parkhead have resulted in drawn league games — the only occasions on which Rangers have avoided a loss to Celtic in ten clashes since the start of last season.
Last March, manager-in-waiting Pedro Caixinha watched Clint Hill’s late equaliser from the stand.
In his second spell, Murty then engineered a better performance in a goalless event on December 30.
Leaving the hotseat boasting an unbeaten Celtic Park record from three visits would be a proud achievement.
‘If I walk out of there on Sunday and I’ve still got that with me, it will be a fantastic plaudit but it will be because our players have done something really well,’ said Murty.
‘That’s what we’re preparing for. We’ve almost done it twice there. I think the mindset of the players was right, the shape of the team, the intensity they brought was right on those days.
‘We have the opportunity to go there again and have a fantastic day. I want more of that. I want guys desperate to go and fight for our shirt, our club. I want them to put on a right good show for our fans.’
While former Scotland colleague Gordon has been a pain to Murty, he has his own goalkeeping issues to deal with in the run-up to the sixth and final meeting of the season.
Jak Alnwick is in for Wes Foderingham, who has been for a scan on a long-standing shoulder problem.
‘He’s got an opportunity to go and show people what he’s all about,’ said Murty. ‘I’ve got no doubt that he’s ready to go and do that.’