Ferguson: 'We must prove title credentials'

Barry Ferguson believes Rangers can only regard themselves as true challengers for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title when they are sitting proudly at the top of the pile.

The Ibrox side head into Wednesday’s Old Firm derby trailing Celtic by two points but with two games in hand against bottom two St Mirren and Gretna.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has already labelled Rangers favourites for the title ahead of the tussle at Parkhead but Ferguson insists such declarations are premature.

“We’ve not won the games in hand yet so we’re still behind in the league,” the Rangers skipper pointed out.

“It depends whether we win the games or not where we will be.

“I only concentrate on my own team and we just have to prepare right and go there and try and win the game or at least get something from the game.

“You’re always anxious to get to pole position in the league.

“I’d rather the games that were called off, the St Mirren and Gretna games, hadn’t been. I’d rather have got them out of the way, got the points and hopefully be sitting on top.

“But we’re not on top, Celtic are still in pole position.

“We’ve got two away games against two teams who are fighting at the bottom of the league so they’re going to be two difficult games for us.”

Walter Smith boasts a 100% record in Old Firm derbies since his return to the Ibrox helm almost a year ago.

But Ferguson insisted: “There’s no secret. To be honest, there’s not much of a team talk.

“It’s down to how strong you are inside. I’m positive that all the guys in the squad know what it’s all about.

“The manager’s team talk is the shortest of the whole season.

“Last season’s win there was a big psychological boost because we had gone a number of years without winning at Parkhead.”

Several players on both sides earned their first taste of one of football’s most famous fixtures when Rangers beat their bitter rivals 3-0 at Ibrox in October.

And Ferguson is confident every single player in the dressing room – including the foreign imports – will be hungry for more success.

He said: “I’ve played in games when I’ve been the only Scot in the Rangers team but the dressing room is still the same even though there are now five or six Scots starting.

“They know what it’s all about. I don’t think it matters if they’re from this country or a foreign country.

“The new boys loved the first game, they thought the atmosphere was unbelievable. It just let them know what it was all about.

“People don’t need to be told now, they know all about the passion. I maybe say a few things to them but after one game, they know what it’s all about.”

He added: “It’s always a difficult place to go. You just have to look at the games Celtic have played this year in the Champions League.

“At times, they have looked out of it then in the second half they have done well to come back into the game and win it.

“We know how big a task it is when we go to Parkhead. They have got a lot of quality players and we know it will be difficult.”