ALEX MCLEISH reckons Rangers could lay down a marker of their title intentions with victory at Parkhead this weekend.

Mark Warburton’s side head into the first Old Firm showdown of the season still looking to hit top gear in the Premiership after a frustrating start to the campaign.

The Gers have taken eight points from their first four league outings as they have beaten Dundee and Motherwell and drawn with Hamilton Accies and Kilmarnock.

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It has been a more encouraging few weeks for new Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers as Hearts, St Johnstone and Aberdeen have all been defeated to leave the Hoops a point clear in the standings with a game in hand.

Even at this early stage of the campaign, Rangers can ill-afford to fall further behind their title rivals if they are to launch a bid for the top flight crown this term.

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And former Ibrox boss McLeish knows Warburton’s side will be fired up and going all out for victory as they look to record their most significant win of the league campaign so far.

He told SportTimes: “When you play for Rangers, it doesn’t matter your quality or what your level is, people expect you to win.

“When you pull on that shirt, you are expected to win and that is the pressure from the fans.

“The way I see it, with my experience in the game, Rangers shouldn’t be under that pressure to win the league this season.

“But of course the expectations are there and the fans will be disappointed if they don’t. The pressure is on Celtic to not lose the title.

“Rangers are going there and they can lay a marker down for the season. It is important that they don’t go too many points behind.

“I remember the first day of the season when we won the Treble, we drew 1-1 at Kilmarnock and Celtic won their game. The Sunday papers said the league was finished.

“I could understand that it was important that you didn’t lose ground. If Celtic were playing on a Saturday, we were on the Sunday or if we played the Saturday and they played the Sunday.

“We were always following each other’s results very closely and you knew that if they slipped up on the Saturday then you had a great chance on the Sunday.

“But if you won your game first then you put the pressure on them. That was the way the season unfolded.

“It is still early in the season but it is important for Rangers not to slip too far behind.”