Derek Johnstone: Public spats, tension and two sides on the chase...yes this is a real title fight

As we head into this weekend’s matches, only two points separate Rangers and Hibs at the top of the league and maybe Mark Warburton and Alan Stubbs would need separating if they were ever put together in the same room.

The two managers at the top seem to enjoy having their arguments in public. It’s been interesting to watch.

It is game-on in this league race, make no mistake about that, and you can see it beginning to affect what people are saying. We shall soon discover whether it affects how people are playing.

Tension and pressure can do strange things to footballers and we will soon find out who is up for the fight. It seems to be getting to the managers. At least a bit.

Stubbs has a go at Warburton and the Rangers manager is happy to hit back – and so on. It reminded me of the Alex Ferguson/Kevin Keegan days as they took turns to ask the press “to tell him what I’ve just said and make sure he knows how I feel”.

You always know that things are serious when managers exchange such pleasantries in the media.

It adds to the occasion and I, for one, think it’s great that we are going to have a genuine battle for promotion, unlike the Premiership where we all know who is going to win that. It’s going to be entertaining and I’m looking forward to some drama.

I am guessing Warburton and everyone else at Rangers would have wanted an easy stroll this season and perhaps some supporters thought that would be the case after what was a terrific start to the season by their team.

There was never a moment, though, when I thought Rangers were going to sail to the title, even when they were winning games at a canter, and my guess is some fans have been surprised Hibs are now breathing down their necks. They shouldn’t be.

After a slowish start, Hibs have played well and are on a great run. True, Rangers have a game in hand and it could be a five-point gap again before we know it. But I have always been the type who would prefer points on the board – just in case.

Hibs have some really good players. Young Liam Henderson, who is on loan from Celtic at Easter Road, is a real prospect. They score a lot of goals and for a few weeks not have been playing good football.

Will it come down to the remaining games between Rangers and Hibs? Now there’s a thought.

And don’t rule out Falkirk. They are a good side with a fine manager in Peter Houston. They are difficult to beat at home and won’t go away. Write them off at your peril.

Falkirk will fancy making the two teams above them work all the way to May.

The fact there are three teams fighting for the one automatic promotion spot is going to be a test for those players involved and for Warburton himself.

Every game, every point is vital from now on in. A bad run of form, even just a few games, could really hurt. That’s how close it is going to be.

It wasn’t so long ago when it looked as if Rangers would go 11 points clear. Had that happened it may well have been too big a gap for anyone even with so many games still to be played.

For me, Rangers are still favourites. They have the stronger squad and that is surely going to be an advantage when injuries and suspensions kick in. We shall see what happens in January as well. What does and does not could prove to be so important.

I’ll go back to the squad. At Ibrox, Warburton has good players who are not playing as regularly but who have the ability to come off the bench and change a game. That’s a big advantage in such a tight contest.

So Rangers won’t have it their own way then. Bad news for the club but good news for Scottish football, as we could do with some proper competition. It will be fascinating to see how Warburton handles it. He is calm man and he will need to keep his nerve over the coming months.

He is about to enter a very important period. Every season it is true to say that any team who emerges from the Festive Period in a good position has given themselves a chance.

There are a lot of games in a short period. This is where the bigger squad should become a key factor. It is where Rangers should have the upper hand.

But those who thought they would get it all their own way will need to come around to the fact that this season is going to be far from straightforward.

Miller reflexes are still razor sharp

KENNY MILLER turns 36 next month and is just about the same player now as he was at 17.

It’s a remarkable thing to watch this veteran continue to put in as much effort and energy into every game – and it is every game – as he did as a teenager at Hibs.

So there was no reason I could think of why Rangers should not have kept him on.

I said in this column a few weeks ago that the club should give Miller a new deal. When Kenny signed his deal this week the first thing he said was that he was staying on as a player and retirement had not entered his head. That was good to hear. I don’t want him as a coach just yet. He still has so much to offer as a centre-forward.

He might not play every game, but he remains a crucial part of the squad. That kind of experience will be invaluable for Mark Warburton this season.

Even if he makes just 20 starts, he will do a job for Rangers and then some.

It’s interesting to see he will be working with Ian Durrant and I am sure the younger players will love to see Miller on the training ground. He’s a clever bloke and he will make a good coach.

However, his priority remains as a player and while the other stuff will be important to him, he has a huge amount to offer on the pitch.

There are few more honest players. He always gives his all. If this title race is going to be tight then having Miller on the bench for a game that is 0-0 with 15 minutes left is vital.

I would always believe he would score or set up a goal. I have watched him closely this season and his sharpness in front of goal has not blunted.

He buzzes about that pitch like a young thing and I know how big a character he is in the dressing room.

These kind of guys are rare and Rangers are lucky to have him.

Don’t be fooled by Livingston’s league position

LIVINGSTON are a far better team than many give them credit for and their league position suggests.

And they have a nasty habit of making life tricky for Rangers.

So tomorrow’s match in West Lothian is far from easy for Mark Warburton’s side. I have a feeling they have a hard shift ahead of them.

Rangers won 3-0 in the league earlier this season thanks to two first-half goals.

The result gives off the impression it was a simple game but it was not.

I watched the game and felt Rangers struggled at times, despite running out winners at the end by three goals.

Mark Burchill is doing a good job at Livi. His team are well drilled and hard to break down.

They made life difficult for Rangers in Glasgow and at home they might be even more stubborn.

They will absolutely fancy taking something from the match.

Don’t be fooled by the fact they are sitting fourth bottom in the Ladbrokes Championship.

Livi picked up some good points before the break and it took Rangers until the 75th minute before they scored in the League Cup game at Ibrox.

There were a few hefty tackles that night and I wonder if we will see that again. Livingston fight for everything. That’s what makes this game a test.

Rangers have better players of course, but they will have to be on it from the start.

Your question for Derek Johnstone

LINDA PORTER from Shawlands asks DJ: What has impressed you most about Rangers this season?

Before the international break, they went quite a few games without playing well at all and yet somehow ground out a result.

Winning when you are not at your best is key and, so far, Rangers have managed this.

You can’t play well all the time, but as long as the players get the three points then no real damage is done. It’s ironic that one of their best performances came against Hibs, a game they actually lost.

If you have a question for DJ, just email him at dj@eveningtimes.co.uk and we’ll print the answer alongside the question.