Josh Windass insists Rangers can still challenge for the title without beating Celtic

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Mark Warburton’s Glasgow Rangers side are still awaiting a win over their Old Firm foes this season.

Josh Windass, during his time with Accrington

Josh Windass has insisted that Rangers will still be able to challenge for the Scottish Premiership title, even if they do not beat Celtic all season, the Evening Times reports.

The two teams have met twice this term – once in the league, and then in the Scottish League Cup semi-final – and on both occasions, it was the Hoops that have come out on top.

Celtic’s Moussa Dembele scored the only goal in the semi-final

But the Rangers midfielder has claimed that while securing the bragging rivals against their bitter rivals would be great, not being able to beat them will not mean that they will not be in the mix come the end of the campaign.

“In retrospect, beating Celtic doesn’t win you the league. You would love to beat Celtic and the fans really want you to beat Celtic,” he said, as reported by the Evening Times.

Rangers manager Mark Warburton

“But in the long stretch, beating Celtic four times doesn’t win you the Premiership. If we take care of business, keep picking up points, improve and close the gap on Celtic in the table, then we can challenge for the title.”

With Celtic already seven points clear of the Light Blues, and with a game in hand which could allow them to extend that advantage further, it is arguably going to take a sensational run of form until the end of the season for them to get themselves into title contention.

But while results against the leaders have not been ideal thus far, their other results and performances in recent weeks have hinted that they have the potential to establish themselves as the best of the rest.

As well as showing a willingness to play slightly less attractive football to secure wins over Inverness and Partick, they pushed Aberdeen all the way and were only denied a share of the points by a controversial free-kick decision that led to the Dons’ stoppage-time winner.

And if they can build upon those more positive signs, perhaps Rangers will be capable of securing second place in their first year back in the top flight.