NafisaRangers have given their supporters another reason to believe the balance of power in Scotland could be shifting, and Derek McInnes has made it clear that his side are not about to downplay their latest achievement.
The Ibrox outfit continued their impressive run with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock, a result that lifted them to the top of the Scottish Premiership table overnight. With confidence growing after another domestic win, the Rangers manager was keen to emphasise exactly what his players have accomplished.
There was no direct attack on Celtic, no explicit mention of their Glasgow rivals and certainly no declaration that the title race was already decided. But McInnes’ insistence that Rangers deserved their place at the summit provided a confident message at a time when the battle for supremacy in Scotland is beginning to attract even more attention.
For a club whose supporters have spent recent seasons demanding a sustained challenge for the biggest honours, the significance of seven consecutive domestic victories should not be underestimated. Rangers are building momentum, and their manager wants that achievement to be recognised.
“We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact we’ve gone top of the league.”
It was a straightforward statement, but one that underlined McInnes’ determination to make the most of Rangers’ progress. Rather than allowing the conversation to focus entirely on the points dropped earlier in the campaign or the challenges still ahead, he wanted his players and supporters to appreciate the position they had worked themselves into.
That could easily be interpreted as a subtle message to Celtic, who have dominated much of the recent conversation surrounding Scottish football. However, McInnes stopped short of turning his post-match assessment into a public confrontation with the champions’ rivals.
His emphasis was firmly on Rangers and their own progress. The message was simple: after a difficult period, the club are winning regularly again, and their place at the top of the table is evidence of that improvement.
Seven wins in a row send Rangers a message of their own
The victory over Kilmarnock extended Rangers’ winning run to seven domestic matches, giving McInnes another opportunity to underline the work being done behind the scenes.
Rangers were ruthless during the first half at Ibrox, establishing a commanding advantage before the interval. Ryan Naderi opened the scoring, Kevin Kelsy added a second and Naderi struck again to leave Kilmarnock with a mountain to climb.
The visitors improved after the break and eventually found a consolation goal through substitute Nicky Clescenco, but Rangers had already done enough to secure the points.
McInnes was not entirely satisfied with everything he saw, particularly after Kilmarnock increased the pressure in the second half. Nevertheless, the result extended Rangers’ winning streak and put them above Celtic in the standings, at least temporarily.
For the Rangers boss, that combination of results and league position was worth celebrating.
“We deserve to be top of the table (ahead of struggling Celtic we beat twice in space of a week).”
That declaration was perhaps the strongest expression of his confidence. It was not a claim that Rangers had already won the title, nor was it a direct criticism of Celtic. Instead, McInnes was backing his team’s achievements and insisting that their position at the summit was no accident.
It is the kind of statement that can quickly become a talking point among supporters of both Glasgow clubs. Rangers fans will welcome their manager’s confidence, while Celtic supporters may point out that the standings could change again after the next round of fixtures.
And that is precisely why McInnes’ wording matters. Rangers have moved into a position their supporters want them to occupy, but maintaining it will require more than a strong run of results.
Celtic remain firmly in the picture
Despite the excitement surrounding Rangers’ rise, the title race is far from settled.
Rangers moved above Celtic overnight, but their rivals had the opportunity to reclaim top spot with a result against Motherwell. That meant McInnes’ side could enjoy the achievement without pretending that the wider battle had already been won.
There is also a difference between leading the table at a particular moment and remaining there when the pressure intensifies. Rangers must continue collecting points, particularly in matches where opponents are determined to frustrate them and force mistakes.
McInnes’ focus on the league position suggests he understands the importance of building belief within his squad. A team that repeatedly wins matches begins to approach difficult fixtures with greater confidence, and that can become a significant advantage over the course of a season.
However, Rangers cannot afford to become distracted by Celtic’s response. Their immediate task is to maintain their own standards and ensure that this winning run becomes the foundation of a sustained title challenge rather than a brief surge up the table.
For Celtic, the message is equally clear: Rangers are accumulating victories and applying pressure. Even without a direct verbal attack, McInnes’ comments will ensure that attention remains on the growing contest between the two clubs.
McInnes keeps the focus on Rangers
The temptation after moving to the top of the table would be to turn the occasion into a declaration of intent against Celtic. McInnes, however, kept his comments centred on his own team’s achievements.
“The players deserve a lot of credit. Seven wins in a row and top of the league — we’ve got to feel good about ourselves.”
That assessment captured the mood around Ibrox. Rangers have put together an impressive sequence of results, and their manager believes the players deserve recognition for the work that has taken them to the summit.
Whether Celtic supporters view his words as a subtle dig is a matter of interpretation. There was no explicit provocation, but the timing of the comments — with Rangers moving above their biggest rivals — gives them an obvious edge in the context of the title race.
Ultimately, McInnes has made his position clear. Rangers should recognise their progress, take confidence from their winning run and embrace the challenge of remaining at the top.
Celtic may yet reclaim first place, and the season still has plenty of twists ahead. But after seven consecutive domestic victories, Rangers have put themselves back into the conversation in a meaningful way.
McInnes did not need to name Celtic to make that point. His message was that Rangers have earned their place at the top — and now they must prove they can stay there.
Nafisa
