McInnes Dismisses Title Pressure Talk Ahead of Rangers' Trip to Dundee
Derek McInnes says it is too early for Rangers to focus on pressuring Celtic and Hearts, despite a win at Dundee potentially sending them top.
Rangers manager Derek McInnes has brushed off suggestions that a victory over Dundee on Saturday evening could heap pressure on Celtic and Hearts, insisting his side must simply focus on winning their own match. A win at Dens Park would lift Rangers above Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic not playing until Sunday when they face third-placed Hearts in a rematch of last season's title decider.
McInnes was unequivocal when asked if the timing could offer a psychological edge. He stressed that teams must win regardless of when they play, and described the notion of applying pressure on title rivals as premature at this stage of the season. His comments reflect a determination to keep attention on Rangers' own performance rather than external factors.
Rangers enter the fixture on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions, a stark contrast to Celtic's recent form. Celtic have lost four of their last five matches, including a 4-1 Europa League defeat by Benfica on Thursday. Hearts also played in Europe, drawing 1-1 with Nordsjaelland in the Conference League. Rangers, meanwhile, are absent from European competition after a disappointing Conference League play-off loss to Jablonec in August.
McInnes acknowledged a degree of envy while watching European fixtures but framed the lack of midweek games as a potential domestic advantage, though he cautioned it guarantees nothing. He noted that Rangers have more time to prepare but emphasised the need to translate that into results, starting with Dundee.
Looking back at last weekend's 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, McInnes demanded improvement, particularly after a significant second-half drop-off. He said having players in training this week has helped, but stressed the team must deliver a big performance at Dens Park. Supporters, meanwhile, have taken to social media to express a mix of optimism about the winning run and caution about the challenge ahead, with some urging the team to capitalise on Celtic's recent stumbles.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
