Alan Stubbs has said that he struggles to see Rangers coming back from falling seven points behind Celtic in the event of a win against Falkirk on Sunday.

The ex-Celtic defender was critical of the quality of Scottish football, particularly the Hoops’ two main title rivals, who drew at Tynecastle on Wednesday night.

Both Hearts and Rangers are on Premier Sports Cup duty this weekend, giving Martin O’Neill’s men the opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points.

Not all Celtic fans are feeling the positivity amid inconsistent performances and dismal European results, but Stubbs feels that a win this weekend could be ‘massive’.

Alan Stubbs on Celtic: ‘They need a real uplift’

Speaking on talkSPORT, Alan Brazil said to Stubbs: “I’ve got Charlie Adam coming on, I’ve got McCoist coming on… it’s too blue-sided, this talkSPORT radio. We can go seven points clear [on Sunday], if we win in at Falkirk. Rangers are in the cup. I’m sure Martin’s thinking, ‘If we go seven clear, we’ll be hard to peg back.'”

Stubbs said: “It’s big. It’s massive, if Celtic go that. We’ve seen [Martin O’Neill] draw up leads in the past. I think it’s probably two teams at the moment who aren’t at the peak of their powers in terms of their squads. Celtic’s needs a real uplift, and I’d say so does Rangers as well.

“No disrespect, but they’re not two great teams at the moment, compared to where they have been. That’s what makes it closer. And I think the last thing Rangers need at the moment is for Celtic to be building a big lead — because I don’t think they’ve got the players to draw it back if Celtic do get in the lead.”

Brazil added: “Celtic battered Hearts, didn’t they? Hearts are eight points behind Celtic, which is a lot. If Celtic win [against Falkirk], the gap between them, Rangers and Hearts…”