Rangers deserve some “respect” after “silly” questions from Robbie Savage asking if the title race between them and Celtic is already over, according to Chris Sutton.

Celtic won their opening game of the season by beating Ross County 4-2 at home while the Gers faced opening-day defeat on the road, losing 1-0 at Kilmarnock.

It leaves Michael Beale’s side in a deficit already after a huge recruitment drive that has seen nine players arrive this summer. Sutton, though, was in little mood for Savage’s line of questioning.

Speaking on BBC 606 with Sutton, Savage asked: “Chris, is the title race over already?” in quotes reported by Football Scotland (6 August).

“You’re not really going there are you? Rangers weren’t fantastic on the plastic at Kilmarnock, they lost. Difficult pitch and Celtic won,” was the Celtic legend’s response.

“Is the title over?” Savage asked once again.

“Don’t be silly. Have a bit of respect for Rangers, Rob.”

Savage’s claims are absolutely ridiculous and that is further proven by the fact that Sutton, a man who rarely defends Rangers, has shut down his nonsense.

To suggest that a title race is over after one match of football is unheard of and the pundit’s comments will only be of use to the Rangers players, as they should provide a source of motivation to silence Savage and prove people wrong.

Celtic lost three games as well as drawing on three occasions last season and will most likely drop points at some point down the line and it is at that point Beale’s men will need to be ready to capitalise.

Of course, the opening-day defeat does make things very difficult with the club already on the back foot and there is now little room for error, but the suggestion that the title race is over is extremely premature.

This is football, a sport where you can never rule anything out.