The Premiership title race is heating up, and a recent weekend of thrilling matches has thrown the competition wide open! It's fascinating to see how new faces are making an immediate impact, reshaping the narrative of the season.
One of the most striking observations from Sunday's fixtures was that none of the goalscorers from the top four teams had been at their respective clubs last season. This is particularly noteworthy given that Celtic were already in a dominant position, seemingly cruising towards the title at this time last year. Fast forward to now, and the landscape has dramatically shifted!
Take Sebastian Tounekti, for instance. He's already found the net for the third time at Rugby Park this season, showcasing a remarkable knack for scoring at that venue. Then there's Benjamin Nygren, who has netted his 16th goal for Celtic since joining in the summer. And who could forget Araujo, the January arrival whose crucial goal secured three points for his team? These new additions are clearly making their mark!
Over at Ibrox, the scoring was initiated by Marc Leonard, a player who only joined Hearts a mere four weeks ago. Meanwhile, Claudio Braga continues his sensational season with yet another goal. It's also worth mentioning Ryan Naderi, a January signing who played a key role in the first Rangers goal. But the real headline grabber was Youssef Chermiti, a striker who has been silencing his critics with his impressive performances since his significant transfer.
Chermiti arrived from Everton for an initial £8 million, but faced skepticism due to his early form. However, a brace in the derby at Celtic Park began to win over some doubters, and he's once again delivered in a high-stakes encounter. But here's where it gets controversial... While Chermiti's talent is undeniable, former Celtic defender Jackie McNamara points out the need for greater consistency. "The biggest thing is consistency," he stated on the Scottish Football Podcast. "Has he got attributes? Yeah, he can move, he's physical, he's good in the air. Technically, he's not brilliant, but he scores a hat-trick, he looked world-class against Celtic in the second half. That was more down to Celtic's defending and in Wilfried Nancy's time. I think if you're going to lead the line for Rangers, you've got to have that every game. You've got have that consistency. You've got to be on the end of everything. He's away with the match ball. So what's his reaction to that now? Strikers are all about confidence, but for him there has to be some kind of consistency there."
And this is the part most people miss... Rangers have been on an impressive run, accumulating the most points in the league since Rohl took the helm on October 26th. Their recent victory against Hearts was crucial for maintaining this momentum, and they now boast the best defensive record among the top three sides.
Rohl himself faced some criticism for his team selection in a recent draw, and his suggestion that a single point was a positive outcome raised eyebrows. However, as former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson highlighted, the team responded brilliantly. "He's done a brilliant job," Thomson commented. "He was questioned a bit during the week at Fir Park, conceding late to an excellent Motherwell team. But to bounce back against the league leaders, with Chermiti getting his hat-trick, was the icing on the cake. It's going to be nervy for them all. It changes every week. I do think Rangers are in pole position now to strike. It's there for them. But I certainly wouldn't rule out the other two."
Motherwell's victory at Fir Park has kept their hopes of a remarkable season alive, though manager Jens Berthel Askou remains grounded. "The league is not over," he stated. "Whether we are a part of it is for you to discuss." Stewart believes it would be a mistake to underestimate Motherwell, a team that has lost fewer games than two of the clubs above them. With upcoming fixtures against Celtic and Hearts before the split, their form could significantly impact the title race.
Stewart further elaborated, "It wasn't just a fascinating weekend of games, there was midweek as well. You know, it's been two full rounds of games and Motherwell's performance against Rangers was outstanding. Having drawn too many games could be their Achilles heel but they've only lost three. They don't look like conceding goals, don't look like they're going to lose games. When the post-split fixtures come out, it's going to be a bloodbath, really."
The fan reactions paint a vivid picture of the current excitement:
- Celtic fan David expressed optimism: "Wow that result just goes to show that Celtic have not given up on winning the title this season. Let's hope the players respond for the rest of the season. Big games coming up."
- Hearts supporter Mike noted the challenges: "Unfortunately our three high profile signings, Ageu, Chesnokov and Kabore were posted missing in the 45 minutes they each played. We are really missing Cammy and Shanks. Rangers are a different team to the one we beat twice already this season. Playing with confidence and probably favourites for the title. However, we are still top and need to win our next matches before the split."
- Motherwell fan Derek was ecstatic: "I'm calling on all Motherwell fans to pinch themselves. This is absolutely the best time since the Ancell Babes. In folklore, we've had this team's exploits passed down through the generations. Even the Willie Pettigrew years can't beat this. A trophy would be the icing on the cake. Take a bow, Jens Berthel Aaskou."
- Rangers supporter Chris looked ahead: "We have played two of the form teams this week and finished it closer to the top of table than we started. The second half performance against Hearts was as good as we have played this season. But I think the season will likely go down to the wire. They are all big games now."
- Hearts fan Frank offered a realistic perspective: "To keep our challenge up we need to dispatch Falkirk and Aberdeen next - two of the few clubs who have beaten us this season. Realistically, we are punching above our weight and need the Old Firm to lose nerve, but under their new managers I don't think that's likely. I've enjoyed the ride so far but have never got carried away. If you'd told me at the beginning of the season that we would be disappointed with third place I'd have laughed out loud."
- Rangers fan Elaine was thrilled: "At last! A team with some fight about them. Brilliant to see big Youssef Chermitti getting his hat-trick. Now we can believe we are in a title race. If we hadn't gifted Hearts two goals, they never looked like scoring. Now we hunt!"
- Celtic fan Henry remained hopeful: "Fantastic result at a tricky venue, we have a game in hand and are only three points behind the league leaders. Celtic can still win this league. All the supporters need to get behind the team and stop all this 'sack the board' nonsense."
- Motherwell fan Stuart reflected on performance: "Wasn't the best performance by a long way, but possibly more satisfying to win when not playing as well as we have had in recent games. We were a bit careless in possession and gifted opportunities to Aberdeen, but created some great chances for ourselves. We still need to be more clinical, but I'm living the dream as a Motherwell fan this year - where could we end up?"
What do you think? Has Youssef Chermiti's recent form truly put Rangers in the driving seat, or is consistency still a major question mark? And can Motherwell continue their fairytale run and challenge for the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – do you agree with the fans, or do you have a different take on the Premiership title race?
