Chris Sutton’s take on the title race raised eyebrows in the studio — and once you break it down, it’s hard not to question the logic behind it.
With four games left, Celtic still have everything to play for. Fixtures against Hibs (away), Rangers (home), Motherwell (away) and Hearts (home) will decide it, and with just three points separating them from the top, the picture is far from settled.
But after Celtic’s win over Falkirk and Rangers slipping up against Motherwell at Ibrox, Sutton was asked a simple question — and his answer caught everyone off guard.
Sutton’s claim leaves studio stunned
Speaking alongside Tom English and Mark Chapman, Sutton didn’t hesitate when asked if Rangers had a better shot at the title than Celtic.
Tom English: “Do you think Rangers have more of a chance of winning the title than Celtic, Chris?”
Sutton: “Yep.”
Chapman: “Do you?”
Sutton: “Yeah, I do. Yeah. I mean, bearing in mind, Celtic haven’t beaten them and they’ve got to go to Celtic Park, but it wouldn’t be a great surprise.”
Chapman: “Are you doing that old reverse psychology thing?”
Sutton: “Well, I’m not revealing that. I was there on Saturday night watching Celtic play against Falkirk and Falkirk played some really good football.
“There were times at Celtic Park they [Celtic] got really nervy at 2-1 and they [Falkirk] could have got something out of the game.
“Celtic end up winning 3-1. Celtic are finding a way, but I do not think that’s sustainable.”
It was a bold stance — but one that didn’t quite land cleanly.
Argument doesn’t match what’s happening on the pitch
The core of Sutton’s point rests on Celtic’s record against Rangers this season. That’s fair enough on its own — derby results always carry weight.
But building an entire title prediction around that, while overlooking everything else, is where the argument starts to unravel.
Celtic are picking up points. That’s the reality. Under Martin O’Neill, they’ve shown an ability to grind through games, even when performances aren’t perfect. That’s not a weakness — it’s often the difference in a title run-in.
Players like Callum McGregor have been central to that, keeping things ticking in tight moments and helping the side manage games under pressure. Those contributions might not always grab headlines, but they’re exactly what sustain a challenge.
Dismissing that as something that “isn’t sustainable” feels like a stretch, especially when the results keep stacking up.
Results over rhetoric
The Falkirk game Sutton referenced actually highlights the opposite of his point. Celtic faced a spell of pressure, dealt with it, and still won 3-1. That’s what good teams do.
Title races aren’t decided by who looks the most convincing every week. They’re decided by who keeps delivering, week after week.
That’s where Sutton’s argument struggles. It leans heavily on doubt rather than evidence.
The reaction in the studio said it all. There was a sense that the claim didn’t quite add up — that it ignored the bigger picture unfolding on the pitch.
Right now, Celtic are still in control of their own path. And until that changes, the title race will be shaped by results, not predictions.