‘I got it wrong’: Pundit in Rangers U-turn after Ibrox title success

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It’s come to something when even Jamie O’Hara is willing to praise Rangers.

Scottish football has been repeatedly patronised by the English pundit, who on August 3, 2020 told talkSPORT listeners that Bournemouth are a “higher profile football team” than Rangers.

Seven months on from those comments, the Cherries sit seventh in the English Championship. Rangers, meanwhile, have just clinched the Scottish Premiership title with six games to spare.

Celtic’s 0-0 draw against Dundee United on Sunday meant that Steven Gerrard’s men led their rivals by 20 points, with an unbeaten record in their 32 league matches this season and just nine goals conceded.

Rangers have also reached the Europa League’s final 16 for the second year running, and have yet to be beaten in 11 European matches during the current campaign.

Confirmation of their first top-tier title since 2011 sparked controversial scenes of celebration outside Ibrox and at George Square in the heart of Glasgow, with the outpouring of emotion prompting a rethink on O’Hara’s part.

Speaking on talkSPORT today (Tuesday), the former Tottenham and Wolves man admitted that Rangers are indeed a major club.

He said: “Well, I’ve got it completely wrong. When you’re down here and you’re down south, you don’t realise how big Rangers are until something like that happens, you know.

“And then when you see that and the atmosphere and the fans, and I always give them a bit of stick because it’s Ally (fellow talkSPORT pundit McCoist) you know, but they are a ginormous football club.

“I underestimated Steven Gerrard for sure, but in terms of what they’ve achieved and what Rangers have done it’s unbelievable.

“And I think when you’re down south you’re a bit naive to it aren’t you?”

Rangers return to European action on Thursday night when they take on Slavia Prague in their round of 16 first leg.