Chris Sutton has expressed his admiration for Aberdeen’s impressive start to the season but remains confident that Rangers will finish second in the Scottish Premiership.
Philippe Clement’s Rangers currently sit third, five points behind both Aberdeen and Celtic, despite a narrow 1-0 victory over Hibernian at Ibrox in their most recent outing.
Aberdeen, under Jimmy Delin, have enjoyed a perfect start to their campaign, winning all six of their opening league fixtures. However, Sky Sports pundit Sutton believes that Rangers will still manage to overtake them as the season progresses.
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off (30 September, 33:53), Sutton said:
“Jimmy Delin, what a job he’s doing, I think Rangers will eventually reign them in though.
“Delighted for Aberdeen though and Jimmy Delin.”
The question on many fans’ minds is where Rangers will finish under Philippe Clement. Their performance against Hibernian wasn’t a spectacle, but it demonstrated that the Light Blues can grind out results even when not at their best. This ability to win ugly could be crucial as they look to close the gap on their rivals.
Last season, defeats to Celtic were decisive in the title race, but equally damaging were Rangers’ slip-ups against some of the league’s lesser sides.
These missteps proved costly as the Gers failed to mount a serious challenge for silverware. This term, Clement’s side must avoid repeating those mistakes if they are to make a genuine push for the title.
Although Aberdeen and Celtic currently lead the way, Sutton’s prediction reflects the belief that Rangers can still claw back ground. The task ahead is undoubtedly difficult, but the title race is far from over.
Rangers will need to string together a consistent run of results, especially before the international break, to keep their hopes alive.
Clement’s squad is still a work in progress, but there are signs that they are starting to gel. With each week, Rangers appear to be finding their rhythm, and if they can maintain that momentum, a second-place finish, or even more, is within reach.