Michael Stewart digs out Clement over 'disrespect' claim as he tells Rangers boss 'you're not on safe ground'

Michael Stewart has told Philippe Clement he is NOT on safe ground when it comes to talking about respect.

The Rangers boss fired back at Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and told him that the Light Blues are also up for some fun at Parkhead next weekend - as he branded the Hoops gaffer 'disrespectful' over his post-match comments after the league leaders' 3-0 Saturday triumph over Hearts. The 51-year-old said his troops and Celtic Park would be 'on fire' for the visit of their city rivals.

However, pundit Stewart slammed Belgian Clement as he went back to Rangers' defeat at Ross County and reminded the Ibrox gaffer he went straight down the tunnel without shaking hands with Don Cowie after their shock 3-2 defeat. He would later re-emerge to embrace the Staggies gaffer. Host Jonathan Sutherland reminded him of this fact and Stewart stated that is why he would offer him some 'leeway' but still insisted he is not on the safest of grounds to pass comment over 'respect'.

He told BBC Sportscene: "Look, I think what you can see is a bit of pressure and people react in different ways. I think Philippe Clement is correct in everything he has said in regards to when he walked into the building and were seven points behind but now it is only three. But I think it is better when somebody else is saying that rather than him trying to emphasise the point.

"And I don't think it is disrespectful when you listen to the way that Brendan Rodgers came out and said it. I like to give Philippe Clement a little bit of leeway but I don't think he is on safe ground when he is talking about respect. He didn't shake somebody's hand after a game only a few weeks ago. That was not respectful."

After host Sutherland pointed out he did shake hands