As the dust settles on Rangers’ devastating week in the Scottish Premiership title race, it is very much advantage Celtic.
At the Premiership’s most crucial moment, Rangers have almost completely fluffed their lines, transforming a potential five point advantage into a three-point gap behind Celtic.
It’s a remarkable swing and it’s got Philippe Clement asking this limited Rangers squad to do what’s never been done and go on to win every game of the Premiership split.
You can’t shake the feeling that we’re up a certain creek and whilst we still have one hand on a paddle, there are some very rough waters ahead.
After the draw with Dundee, our makeshift dinghy has also blown another hole.
It’s been a transformational few weeks at Rangers and here we’re going to look at the five game Scottish Premiership run where it’s all gone horribly wrong.
Rangers 1 v 2 Motherwell 02/03/24
Heading into this clash with the Steelmen, Rangers were supposed to be a shoo-in.
Having convincingly defeated Hearts 5-0 at Ibrox, Rangers eked out a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Kilmarnock which had us all dreaming.
But since Rangers came up against Motherwell, who recorded a historic win nearly 30 years in the making, it’s all gone horribly wrong.
Dan Casey – who might’ve been sent off earlier in the game for a horror tackle on Ross McCausland – scored the winner on a day which looks to have rocked this Rangers squad.
Rangers 3 v 1 Hibs 30/03/24
Remarkably, this was Rangers’ next Scottish Premiership match after defeat to Motherwell and finally Philippe Clement’s team got the chance to bounce back.
Hibs – who have struggled all season long under Nick Montgomery – came to Ibrox full of beans and on form and Rangers eventually managed to battle out the victory.
James Tavernier broke the ice, before Cyriel Dessers immediately cancelled out Myziane Maolida’s equaliser before half-time.
Rabbi Matondo came off the bench to net a worldie and secure the points but it was a performance which did little to allay a growing fear of collapse in the stands.
Rangers 3 v 3 Celtic 07/04/24
Despite the wobble against Motherwell, 10-man Celtic let Rangers off the hook when they were beaten by Hearts at Tynecastle.
It was a moment which threatened to kickstart Rangers’ tilt once more with this Old Firm derby signposted as a must win if we had any ambitions to snare the Premiership.
Rangers started awfully, James Tavernier sleeping and eventually conceding within seconds, before Connor Goldson’s handball led to a Matt O’Riley penalty.
Rangers rallied in the second half and would eventually go level before conceding instantly and going 3-2 behind.
Up stepped Rabbi Matondo again, whose wonder strike looked to have saved our season.
Clement – seemingly trying to gee up his lacklustre charges – branded Rangers the “moral winners” in the aftermath of the result.
These are comments which look increasingly set to come back and haunt him.
Ross County 3 – 2 Rangers (04/14/24)
With Rangers’ draw against Celtic still fresh in the memory, Rangers had two games in hand on Celtic’s four point lead heading into the weekend.
Ross County were almost an after thought against the backdrop of a second call off for the Dundee match, and Don Cowie’s men ruthlessly exploited the Gers’ complacency.
This had been aided by the fact Rangers went into half time 1-0 up despite a genuinely pathetic performance contributing to a raft of Ross County chances.
Despite strong words apparently being spoke at the interval, Rangers fumbled in the second half and in a complete 22 minute collapse found themselves 3-1 behind.
James Tavernier’s penalty was too little, too late and in an instant that potential two point advantage had been blown.
Dundee 0 – 0 Rangers (17/04/24)
With Rangers supporters still shellshocked at what had happened at Ross County, up next was this huge banana skin with Dundee.
The fixture having been rearranged twice, it only just got the go-ahead the day before the match with Dundee having already secured a top-six finish.
Clement claimed it meant Tony Docherty’s side had nothing to lose at Dens Park.
And so it proved as a fully committed, focused Dundee performance blunted Rangers’ non-existent sharpness at the top end the park.
Once again Philippe Clement tried to pass off the performance as a positive, with Rangers fans the country over almost universally turning on players who they will hope have blown it in the title race for the final time.
