Rangers are a league game away from the Old Firm derby, and manager Pedro Caixinha will be hoping his men bag all 3 points when they play Partick Thistle later in the day (Friday), so as to keep the pressure on joint league leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.
Should the Gers manage to get their 4th league win at the Firhill Stadium, they will move level on points with the duo at the top of the table temporarily.
History could even be made in the process if they do manage to win by 4 goals, as that would temporarily put them top of the league for the first time since December 2011.
Having not won the league since the 2010-11 season, Rangers are hoping to soon, and former Ibrox midfielder Kevin Thomson believes a huge win on Friday night could provide them with much-needed physiological boost to do so this term.
According to him: “It’s true that psychological boosts like that can make a difference.
“When you’re at the Old Firm and critical points come along when you could go six points clear or three points ahead with a game in hand. These are all the things that pop up and the significance of it shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
With Celtic up next next Saturday, Caixinha’s charges can go into the clash with enough inspiration which could see them establish themselves as the side to beat should they pull off a victory.
It was a disappointing campaign last term for Rangers, as they could only finish in 3rd place – 39 points behind a Celtic side that went all-campaign unbeaten.
The Ibrox outfit could only manage a draw from the 4 times they met in the league, suffering heavy 5-1 defeats twice.
Thomson reckons Rangers could make a statement in their next 2 league games, considering how impressed he has been of the new side’s campaign thus far.
He further told the Daily Record: “Celtic have a strong team with great players, but they’ll certainly know what Rangers results are at the weekend.
“I’m not saying they’re going to sit and watch them closely or get flustered by Rangers – but they’ll certainly look out for that result at Thistle and there’s no question they’re going to be happy if Rangers slip up.
“But if Rangers win the game and keep on building on that then Celtic will know they have a tougher challenge going into the first Old Firm game later this month.”
