Rangers are currently 2 points behind leaders ST Mirren in the Premiership title race, with 1 point from 1 game. League standing: 4th in Premiership, 1 pts, 0W-1D-0L from 1 games, recent form D. Goals this season: 1 scored, 1 conceded (0 goal difference). Next fixture: vs Kilmarnock (away, 2026-12-26) (6th in the table). Currently sidelined: Connor Barron, José Cifuentes.
What happened?
Former Celtic star Patrick Roberts has revealed he gave Dan Neil transfer advice before his move to Rangers. Neil joined the Light Blues from Sunderland fresh from helping Ipswich Town secure their return to the Premier League.
Why it matters for Rangers
Roberts - now at Birmingham City - spent two-and-a-half years in Glasgow's East End after joining on loan from Manchester City in 2016, claiming three titles and back-to-back Trebles. And the Parkhead cult hero admitted he had a chat with Neil before he moved to Rangers - and warned it could be tough in the city if his new club don't win every week.
What comes next?
Roberts told The Scotsman: “I had this conversation not long ago when Dan Neil called me. He wanted my opinion the Scottish league, and the city, because it was a similar situation to when I went. I had it very easy. I told him ‘you have to win games’, then you get the luxury of going out, and you get more confidence and more belief. It can make you feel like you’re an absolute superstar when you’re performing well [at Celtic]. But when you’re on the other end...I didn’t get it a lot, and the Celtic players didn’t get it a lot. We didn’t lose a game in that whole season. Rangers fans couldn’t really say anything to you because they had nothing to back it up. But I can see it would be tough if you’re on the other side. I played with Waggy [ Martyn Waghorn ] at Derby, and it was quite tough for him, and quite a few of the Rangers players. “It’s part and parcel of the game, and it’s not nice to see because you’d hate it if it was you, but at the same time, it is how fans are. Especially in Glasgow. It’s all about football, it is life or death up there. I was on the good side of it, and I used to enjoy going out in the city. Everyone I met was either a Celtic fan, or a Rangers fan who didn’t bother to say anything. “It didn’t bother me. If I went out you’d be asked for photos, and sometimes you just wanted to go to the cinema or go shopping! But I quite enjoyed it, I was young and you enjoy that feeling of being liked by fans. It is tough up there. It was bad for the other side then, but thankfully not for us.”
What's next for Rangers?
Rangers will look to bounce back from their current struggles and get back on track in the Premiership title race. With a tough schedule ahead, the team will need to find a way to win consistently and silence their critics. The next fixture is against Kilmarnock on December 26th, and it will be a crucial test for the team's resolve and determination.
