13-Point Gap: Sutton Critical Of Rangers Following Celtic Victory

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Post on Feb 24, 2025

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13-Point Gap: Sutton Slams Rangers After Celtic Victory

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – A 13-point chasm now separates Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership after Celtic's emphatic 4-0 victory over their Old Firm rivals on Sunday. The resounding win, fueled by a brace from Kyogo Furuhashi and goals from Liel Abada and David Turnbull, has left former Celtic striker Chris Sutton fuming at the state of Rangers, delivering a scathing critique of their performance and their manager, Michael Beale.

Sutton, a renowned pundit known for his outspoken opinions, didn't mince words in his post-match analysis. He described Rangers' performance as "embarrassing," "unacceptable," and "a million miles away" from the standards expected at a club of their stature. He highlighted a series of individual and collective failures, pointing to defensive lapses, a lack of creativity in midfield, and a palpable absence of fight and urgency on the pitch. The 13-point deficit, he argued, isn't simply a numerical difference; it's a stark reflection of the gulf in quality and ambition between the two Glasgow giants.

"It was a complete and utter capitulation," Sutton stated in a post-match interview on BT Sport. "To concede four goals to your biggest rivals in such a manner is simply not good enough. The body language of the Rangers players spoke volumes. They looked defeated before the game even began, and that's a damning indictment of the management and the players themselves."

The match itself saw Celtic dominate from the first whistle. Their high-pressing game stifled Rangers' attempts to build from the back, forcing errors and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Rangers' midfield, often touted as their strength, was overrun, failing to provide the necessary protection for their defense or create enough chances for their forwards. The absence of key players through injury or suspension certainly impacted their performance, but Sutton argued that wasn't enough to excuse the magnitude of the defeat.

Beale, who only took over as Rangers manager in November, has faced significant pressure in recent weeks following a string of unconvincing performances. While he has acknowledged the need for improvement, his attempts to address the team's shortcomings haven't yet yielded the desired results. The heavy defeat to Celtic will only intensify the scrutiny on his management style and his ability to close the considerable gap to their rivals.

The 13-point gap represents more than just a points difference; it represents a significant psychological blow to Rangers' title aspirations. With Celtic showing little sign of faltering, the likelihood of Rangers overturning this deficit appears increasingly slim, raising serious questions about their prospects for the remainder of the season and fueling speculation regarding potential changes within the club. Sutton's outspoken criticism is indicative of a growing sentiment among many football analysts and fans that Rangers face a daunting task to reclaim their place at the top of Scottish football. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how Beale and his team respond to this latest setback and whether they can salvage their season. The pressure is undeniably on.