Rangers look to wrap up title before Celtic semi-final

Kenny Miller: Focus on title. Picture: PA

Rangers can burst 20 points clear of Hibernian on Friday night with victory at Falkirk which would mean they would only need a maximum of nine points to be champions.

The Bairns inflicted the third of only three defeats this season the last time the sides met on 19 December but, since then, Rangers have racked up ten wins and a draw in the league and knocked Kilmarnock and Dundee out of the Scottish Cup.

Miller is playing his part, with a double in last Friday’s 3-1 win over Morton, and he knows the finishing line is in sight. The 36-year-old striker said: “When I came back I wanted to play a part in getting us back to where we belonged and play my part in getting us back to the top of Scottish football. That’s firmly my focus. But for us to do that we need to make sure we take care of what we have to do this season. We want to win it as soon as we can. If we can win the games, it will be all done before the Celtic game. We’re just looking to win every game, starting with Falkirk.

“The gaffer won’t allow us to be distracted. He’s said all along, and it’s no cliché, that when the game is done then all the focus goes on to the next game, whether it be Celtic or Falkirk. However, if it produces an extra edge then it will be great because we are playing some fantastic stuff and if we can add another couple of per cent than it will be great.”

Miller knows it is impossible to avoid the fever that is surrounding the impending re-ignition of one of the football’s greatest rivalries.

He added: “The guys who were here last year know that we were talking about the game for three months before it! Davie Weir was here for five years and he’s experienced everything there is to experience up here and won everything there is to win. I’m sure he’s made the manager fully aware of what it is. But I don’t think there is anyone in football who hasn’t seen an Old Firm game and isn’t aware of what it is.”