THE BIG RANGERS VS CELTIC QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE JURY AS IBROX SIDE FACE ACID TEST

Have Rangers got what it takes to win at Celtic Park on Saturday and keep alive hopes of winning the Premiership title?

KEITH JACKSON: Probably not. Celtic have got one hand on the big prize already and they are too street wise to let it slip now. Course and distance is a huge factor at this stage in a tight title race.

ANDY NEWPORT: They’ll have to start much, much better than they did the last time the teams met and even that might not be enough if Celtic maintain the standards they showed against Hearts. It’s a huge task, especially with no away support for backing.

MICHAEL GANNON: Rangers are not the lambs to the slaughter some are suggesting. The previous games have been pretty close and there could be goals again this time. The mentality issue hangs over Gers though and this will be the acid test.

GAVIN BERRY: No. Nothing that Rangers have shown in derby games this season or even in any game in the last month suggests they have either the mentality or the quality to win at the home of their rivals.

Should Brendan Rodgers be attempting to talk Callum McGregor out of going to the Euros to allow him time to properly recover from injury?

KEITH: What a ridiculous suggestion. McGregor is a machine and his performance against Hearts on Saturday shows he’s getting back up to full speed. Any attempt to stop him representing his country at the Euros would be tantamount to treachery. The nation needs him.

ANDY: Fat chance. McGregor will be desperate to play a part in Germany having been key to Scotland getting there. Rodgers can try to persuade him to stay at home but I suspect it will be a pointless effort.

MICHAEL: No chance. Celtic might selfishly want McGregor fresh but you can’t deny him a crack at a major tournament. The midfielder was back to his best against Hearts and will be a key man for the nation in Germany. Rodgers will just need to keep his fingers crossed.

GAVIN: It would be a big ask, although he did benefit from Scott Brown quitting international football - albeit he went back on that decision later - to focus on Celtic and will no doubt see the positive in a similar move from his current skipper. But it’s a short career and McGregor might not get another crack at a major tournament so it would be unfair unless medics so it’s essential.

Are St Johnstone in serious danger of slipping out of the top flight?

KEITH: Absolutely. Craig Levein may have steadied the ship for a while but it’s listing badly again at a critical moment. Ross County’s improving form is a massive concern for a Saints side which has been performing horribly for months.

ANDY: Yes. Alongside Livi they are the top-flight’s lowest scorers, averaging less than a goal a game.

Contrast that to the Championship hopefuls, especially Raith and Partick who have been free-scoring at times this year, and you have to say it spells trouble for Craig Levein’s team.

MICHAEL: At this point they look certainties for the drop, never mind the play-off spot. The real worry is the lack of fight in the side, and even Craig Levein sounds like a beaten man at the moment. These are terrifying times in Perth.

GAVIN: Absolutely. It’s a miserable run. You have to fancy them to be in the play-off and they don’t look like a team with the form to come through that.

Is David Martindale the man to lead Livingston back to the Premiership?

KEITH: Yes – if such a man even exists then it’s probably him. But Martindale has warned that Livingston might be about to return to their level for the long run and he’s probably correct. Livi might be gone for a while.

ANDY: Undoubtedly. His magic dust might have run shy this year but he’s performed wonders keeping a club like Livi in the Premiership with such meagre resources. A year in the Championship to restock and re-energise might just be when the Lions need.

MICHAEL: Martindale deserves a crack but the question should be, can Livi keep hold of him? Livi could be heading for tough times and a fresh start and new challenge could be exciting for a talented coach and shrewd recruiter.

GAVIN: Surely he has to be given a shot after the work he’s done in west Lothian. But it’s going to be a big ask for him and if they get off to a bad start next season then you have to fear for him.

2024-05-06T05:14:49Z dg43tfdfdgfd