'A bit early' for Rangers to put pressure on Celtic & Hearts - McInnes
Retold by Oddsrama · 16 October 2026
Rangers head into Saturday's trip to Dundee with momentum on their side, having strung together seven consecutive victories across all competitions. A win at Dens Park would temporarily lift them to the Scottish Premiership summit, ahead of Celtic's clash with Hearts the following day. Despite the tempting scenario, boss Derek McInnes is keeping his team grounded and refusing to get caught up in the chase dynamics just yet.
McInnes made it clear that Rangers' sole focus is securing three points against Dundee, rather than trying to heap pressure on title rivals Celtic and Hearts. He emphasized that the season is still young and that fixating on what others are doing can be a distraction. With Celtic having faltered recently—dropping four of their last five matches—and Hearts preparing for their European duties, there might be an opportunity for Rangers to make a statement. However, the Rangers manager wants none of it. "It's a bit early in the season to put pressure on title rivals," he stated, adding that his squad simply needs to win their own games and take things one step at a time.
One silver lining to missing out on European football after their August Conference League exit to Jablonec is extra preparation time before matches. McInnes acknowledged the sting of watching Celtic and Hearts in European competition this week—with Benfica dismantling Celtic 4-1 and Hearts drawing 1-1 with Nordsjaelland—but stressed that any advantage only materializes through domestic success. Rangers' 3-1 win over Kilmarnock last weekend showed promise, though the manager felt a second-half dip was unacceptable. He's demanding sharper performances as his team looks to maintain their winning streak. For punters watching Scottish football, Rangers' form is compelling, but McInnes' cautious approach suggests he won't be pushing all-in on the title talk just yet.
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