Monday 12 September 2016 17:21, UK
Dean Windass insists Rangers need to build their team around his son, Josh, if they are to close the gap on Celtic.
Mark Warburton's side were beaten 5-1 at Celtic Park on Saturday, but the former Accrington Stanley player impressed with a number of powerful runs, including a 30-yard drive which paved the way for Joe Garner's goal on the stroke of half-time.
Former Aberdeen striker, Dean, says Rangers were too slow to cope with Celtic's front line - but believes it could have been a different story had they made better use of his son's speed on the ball.
"The Celtic that Brendan [Rodgers] is building has energy and pace. In my opinion, I don't think Rangers have enough legs in their team. If you look at guys like Scott Sinclair and James Forrest, Celtic do," he said.
"In my opinion, there is only Josh and Barrie McKay in the Rangers team who are going to unlock the door. They need more than that.
"Give Josh the ball because he has pace and power. In my opinion, as a supporter and a dad, he didn't get the ball enough. When he did get on the ball he did something with it.
"Listen, Josh is still young, he's learning the game and has come from Accrington. But the one thing you know is that when he gets the ball, he makes things happen. But it's not just about Josh, it's about the team."
The Old Firm rivals do not meet again until December 31, but Dean says Saturday's bruising experience will only benefit his son.
"I spoke to Josh this morning. It was an experience he's never had before. He said to me he had to take a couple of paracetamol when he left the ground because the noise the Celtic supporters made when they scored was so loud it gave him a headache," he said.
"But to play in that stadium with that atmosphere at 22 years old will only help him learn.
"He did not let himself down but you only need to look at the scoreline to see Celtic were a lot stronger. Josh isn't happy with the result, obviously, but was with how he played. I was too, he did okay.
"It was the biggest game of his life and he will learn from this. Nothing fazes Josh at all. I thought he was the best player for Rangers but they lost 5-1. I told him though that he didn't let anybody down and that was the most important thing.
"He loved the experience and it will only make him stronger. I'm proud of the kid and I'm sure - in fact I know it - he will be a top player."
Warburton insisted after the match there was not a major gulf between the sides and Windass reckons the score will be closer when the teams clash again on Hogmanay.
"Rangers will learn from this," he said. "When I played for Aberdeen against Rangers I was coming up against Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup and I took loads from those games.
"I don't think they will be so far apart come the end of the season. I even think Warburton will learn from it. Maybe he picked the wrong team on Saturday. I don't know, I'm not a manager. But I reckon he and Davie Weir will be sitting there this morning analysing where it went wrong."
