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Rangers are in a difficult spot: Joey Barton offers honest verdict ahead of Ibrox clash with Celtic

Joey Barton of Rangers during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on August 6, 2016 ...
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Former Ibrox ace Joey Barton has commented on Rangers’ upcoming game against Celtic.

Joey Barton of Rangers  during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has told talkSPORT that he thinks the Gers are in a difficult spot ahead of this weekend’s clash with Celtic.

Pedro Caixinha’s men drew 2-2 away at Partick Thistle on Friday night, as Graham Dorrans scored a late equaliser to give the Gers a point.

It’s now 11 points in six league games for Rangers, and manager Caixinha faces a huge week, starting with Tuesday’s Scottish League Cup clash with Partick Thistle, and then the Old Firm derby.

General view of Ibrox Stadium ahead of the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Rangers and Celtic meet for the first Old Firm derby of the season on Saturday afternoon, with the Bhoys – who sit top of the Scottish Premiership, five points clear of Rangers – looking for another win over their city rivals.

Celtic have yet to lose a league game under Brendan Rodgers, and having beaten Rangers 5-1 twice last season – including the most recent meeting between the two sides at Ibrox in April – Rodgers will be looking for another Old Firm win.

The big question is whether Rangers have really closed the gap to Celtic this season, with Caixinha hoping that his summer spending spree will pay dividends this weekend.

Joey Barton of Rangers  during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ahead of the big game, former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton – whose final appearance for the club came in the 5-1 defeat to Celtic last September – has offered his view on the Gers.

Barton has told talkSPORT that he thinks Rangers are in a difficult spot as they are still in transition with so many new signings, but he would still like to think that the Gers will come out on top and end Celtic’s unbeaten league run.

“Rangers are in a difficult spot, aren’t they?” said Barton. “In terms of they’re a little bit in transition. I’d like to think that Rangers can stop Celtic’s current unbeaten run, it’s always nice to win an Old Firm, so I guess it would be even sweeter if it halts what is a very impressive run from Celtic so far,” he added.