Michael Stewart has warned Sevco that it’s time to deliver on their hype.
It doesn’t take much to whip the deluded into a state of frenzy with a goalfest against Fraserburgh and Ayr United enough to set of a fresh batch of hysteria.
With a five point lead over Aberdeen the tribute act have achieved one target for the season but a win over Celtic is what drives on every Sevco fan and player.
For two years Derek McInnes’ side have provided the main challenge to Celtic but on nine occasions Brendan Rodgers has come up with a win to the dismay of the Dons support.
Aberdeen were never quite as vocal as the noise from Ibrox this week but the build up is similar as Stewart recalls.
He told The Sun: “For the past couple of years Derek McInnes’ Dons have pretty much dealt with everyone else.
“During that spell they’ve gone into every game with the Hoops saying: ‘This is our time’ — and on each occasion Celtic have been waiting for them and they’ve failed to turn up. Pure and simple.
“That CAN’T happen to Rangers if they have genuine aspirations of challenging for the title.
“They simply cannot afford to do what the Dons have done. They need to be on the front foot from the off.”
Sevco’s hopes have suffered a set-back with Russell Martin out injured forcing Graeme Murty to turn to Bruno Alves.
The Portuguese ace hasn’t started a Premiership match since he hobbled out of the December trip to Celtic Park with a sore leg and is likely to partner David Bates in central defence.