By support

24th Oct, 2016 | 10:29am

Chris Sutton delivers Mark Warburton putdown after Rangers manager claim

By Amir Mir

Chris Sutton has rubbished claims from Mark Warburton that the gap between Celtic and Rangers is narrowing.

Gers manager Warburton claimed after his side were beaten 1-0 by their Old Firm rivals on Sunday that the gap between the two Glasgow giants is “a lot closer” than people think.

Striker Moussa Dembele scored a late winner to inflict another defeat on the Ibrox club, after his hat-trick in the 5-1 league win in September.

Former Celtic forward Sutton was astonished by Warburton’s claims, as he explained what the weekend’s performance by Rangers really showed.

“Yes the scoreline was closer but clearly they haven’t got close enough!” Sutton wrote in his Daily Record column. “The gulf is enormous. Let’s be absolutely honest – it was a total mismatch at Hampden.

“If that was a boxing match then Celtic would have won every round comfortably – in fact, the fight would have been stopped.

“Celtic have recruited well and whatever way you look at it Warburton’s summer shopping wasn’t good enough.

“There was a better set-up for this game but if we’re being honest Rangers were lucky to be in the game.”

Brendan Rodgers’ side progressed through to the final of the Scottish League Cup final, after their late winner at Hampden Park.

They will meet fellow Premiership outfit Aberdeen on November 27, after the Dons beat lowly Morton 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Rodgers’ side sit comfortably in top spot in the Scottish Premiership table, with a seven point lead on Rangers, who are fifth with 15 points.

In other Celtic team news, this senior Rangers man has hailed Moussa Dembele as world class following his performance in the Old Firm derby.