DEREK McInnes tonight predicted Rangers will push Celtic all the way for the Ladbrokes Premiership this season after watching them thrash his Aberdeen side 5-0 at Ibrox.
Steven Gerrard’s team lost the first Old Firm game of the season 2-0 at home at the start of this month to fall three points behind in the league.
But their victory yesterday, coupled with the treble treble winners’ draw against Hibernian at Easter Road, moved them to with a point of the leaders at the top of the table.
McInnes, who was missing a raft of key first team players, believes his old club are genuine contenders for the title this term.
“If Rangers and Celtic are recruiting well and spending their money wisely, with their good managers in place, they will fight it out at the top,” he said.
“You could see Rangers are in a good place with a good manager. They have spent the money well in their squad and they will be up challenging Celtic a bit longer this season.”
McInnes was without first choice Aberdeen defenders Andrew Considine, Scott McKenna and Ash Taylor yesterday and felt his tea struggled to cope with Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.
“We’ve always tried to make sure we’re strong through the middle, where we can turn over the ball a lot,” he said.
“In the last few seasons we have had (Ryan) Jack, (Kenny) McLean, (Graeme) Shinnie, these types in there, who can turn the ball over.
“But when Morelos recognises the space wherever it is, whether it is down the sides of centre-backs, whether it is in the wider areas, that allows the runs to go through.
“We are well-versed in how Morelos wants to play, but when he does it as well as he did today, it is difficult to stop.
“I thought he led the line brilliantly today. I thought his header at the back post was top quality cross and top quality goal. That is the type of quality Rangers have. The quality of the movement as well is something he is very good at.”
McInnes, though, is confident Aberdeen, who beat Rangers three times last season and drew with them twice, can still beat their Ibrox rivals with their strongest side. “I still feel we can do that,” he said.
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