JERMAIN DEFOE reckons Rangers' focus has shone through this term as they edge towards an unbeaten Premiership campaign to mark their 55th league flag.

The striker completed the scoring as Steven Gerrard's side ran out 4-1 winners over Celtic on Sunday to clinch their fourth Old Firm win of the season and move 23 points clear at the top of the table.

The defeat to St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals last month ended Rangers' hopes of a double this term and means they are not back in action until the trip to Livingston next week.

Aberdeen's visit to Ibrox will then round off the season as Gerrard and his players get set to lift the Premiership silverware at the end of a historic and remarkable campaign.

"The character has been unbelievable," Defoe told RangersTV. "From the day we came back after the lockdown, we had that long pre-season and I said it a lot of times, I sensed a different kind of focus.

"The lads have been consistent. It has been such a long season and you get ups and downs in football and the best teams in the world always get ups and downs.

"It is important that when you have down days that you stick together and you bounce back and that is the great thing about football, the next game comes around so quickly so you can put things right.

"The season has just been amazing. Just the consistency. At the top level, that is probably the hardest thing to get but if you can do that then the sky is the limit and this year has been great.

Glasgow Times: Rangers' Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game during the Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox

"Just finish it off, don't take your foot off the gas until that whistle goes and we lift the trophy. Looking forward to that.

"Two games to go. We want to go and win to make an unbelievable season so special with what we have achieved. I believe that we will do that.

"We have got those characters and not just the team that starts, the players that have come on.

"You get injuries, key injuries. Our two centre-halves - Leon and Fil - got injured and young Simmo (Jack Simpson) came in for his first Old Firm.

"He was thrown in at the deep end but I thought he was fantastic. I am happy for him. Every player in the squad has played their part."