Aird: Rangers Have The Better Squad

Pic by Jeff Holmes

Fraser Aird has added extra spice to the visit of Hearts on Friday night by claiming Rangers have a better squad than the Championship leaders.

Robbie Nielson's side are undefeated in 20 league games during which they have beaten the Light Blues home and away.

A third victory would take them 16 points clear of the Ibrox club, which remains embroiled in a boardroom battle.

The 19-year-old Gers winger, speaking at Hampden Park where he helped the launch of Topps SPFL official sticker collection 2015, acknowledged the Jambos' terrific start to the league campaign but struck a note of defiance.

They are flying right now, playing a lot of football and scoring a lot of goals,'' he said

I think there is a good confidence in their squad, and they have a good squad.

But I still think that we have a better squad than them and better individual players but we need to go out and prove that.

It is easy saying that sitting here. We need to prove that on Friday and hopefully we can.

They haven't really had a bad spell but hopefully we can change that.

I know they are undefeated in the league so hopefully we can change it and see where it goes from there.''

Hearts' new signing Genero Zeefuik, who marked his debut with a double in the 5-1 win over Dumbarton on Saturday, has already offered his own analysis of the title race by saying: If we beat Rangers on Friday then I think it's over.''

However, Aird insists that the Light Blues would still retain title hopes in the event of defeat.

We still have lots of games to play,'' he said:

They are playing well now but I wouldn't say this game on Friday will decide the league. Hopefully we can win and put a lot pressure on them.

We were unlucky against them when we played them at home, when they scored with the last kick of the ball, pretty much.

The boys are disappointed with the position we are in the league.

But we have a chance to make that a wee bit better on Friday.We are training well and working hard and we have a belief that we can win.''

The next time Aird returns to the national stadium will be for the Scottish League Cup semi-final against traditional rivals Celtic on February 1.

However, the Light Blues' teenager claims an encounter which is likely to stop Scottish football in its tracks for the afternoon is on the backburner at Ibrox.

He said: It is in the back of our minds but we have two big games before we start thinking about Celtic at Hampden.

First and foremost, we have to take care of Hearts on Friday night and then take care of Cowdenbeath.

I think the boys are confident. It is a one-off game and anything can happen but, as I said, our main focus is three points against Hearts and hopefully that will lift the spirits.''