Billy Dodds has backed Rangers to surpass Aberdeen in the race for second place, despite the nine-point chasm currently separating the two sides.
Rangers’ narrow 1-0 victory over Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday (10 November) halted what could have been a further widening of the gap at the summit.
But Philippe Clement’s side remains well adrift of league leaders Celtic and a resurgent Aberdeen.
Speaking on Sportscene (10 November), Dodds laid out his forecast for the season, warning that Rangers fans won’t tolerate trailing not just Celtic but also the Dons.
“It’ll be a close-run thing,” he said.
“I still think they’ll get Aberdeen at some point just because of the budget and the numbers in the squad. But they better get going and put a run together to close that gap.
“Rangers fans won’t accept them being nine points behind Celtic, never mind Aberdeen. I think they’ll pip them eventually.”
Failing to outpace Aberdeen would undoubtedly spell disaster for Rangers. For a club of their stature, sitting anywhere but at the top is already a disappointment, but slipping below second would be unthinkable.
At the start of each campaign, the expectation is to contend for the title. Yet this season, that ambition feels increasingly fanciful.
The performances under Clement have been well short of the calibre needed to challenge Celtic, let alone sustain any long-term success.
It’s been almost four years since Rangers last lifted the title under Steven Gerrard in 2021. Clement’s appointment has yet to signal a turning tide.
With the league crown now likely out of reach, securing second place is the minimum requirement. Anything less, particularly falling behind Aberdeen, would constitute a colossal failure.
Rangers’ financial clout, squad depth, and ability to attract talent ought to guarantee better results. However, any notion of celebrating second place feels more like damage limitation than success.
The problems at Ibrox run deep. As Gary Keown recently described, the club resembles a “basketcase.” Fixing the mess, both on and off the pitch, remains a monumental task.