Rangers’ title hopes suffered another blow as they fell 11 points behind leaders Celtic following a frustrating 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday.
The result, compounded by Celtic’s dominant 4-1 win over Hearts, leaves the Light Blues with an uphill battle in their pursuit of the Premiership crown.
The match was delayed by 55 minutes due to traffic issues that affected the visitors’ journey, but once underway, it was Dundee United who struck first. Striker Sam Dalby capitalised on slack defending to put Jim Goodwin’s side ahead in the first half.
The home fans, unimpressed with Rangers’ disjointed performance, made their frustrations clear by booing the team off at the break.
The atmosphere lifted in the 66th minute when winger Vaclav Cerny equalised with a well-worked goal, but Rangers were unable to find a winner despite dominating possession in the closing stages.
While the draw reduced the gap to second-placed Aberdeen to eight points following the Dons’ 2-1 defeat at St Mirren, Celtic’s victory extended their lead at the top of the table, further piling pressure on manager Philippe Clement.
Butland: “By no means are we out of it”
Goalkeeper Jack Butland, one of Rangers’ most consistent performers this season, acknowledged the challenges facing his side but insisted they remain in the title race.
“People might not think that. You won’t catch us not thinking that,” Butland said when asked about Rangers’ title chances.
“The reality, we know what it looks like. We know we need to perform better if we want to be in a title race. By no means are we out of it, but we’ve given ourselves way too much to do at this point. We need to start closing that gap, and performances like that aren’t going to help us.”
Butland admitted that frustration among the fanbase was justified and stressed the importance of unity within the squad as they look to turn their season around.
“It’s part and parcel of it. It’s on all of us. If you’re not winning at Rangers, it’s on all of us,” he said.
“Ultimately, the manager faces that and he has to face that more than any of us, but it’s on us all. We’re not going to be pointing fingers. We’ve got to stick together. Completely understand the fans’ frustration, rightly so. They expect to see more. That’s not just on the manager, that’s on all of us.”
Focus Turns to Europa League
Rangers face a tough Europa League test on Thursday with a trip to Nice, and Butland is calling for an immediate improvement in both performance and results.
“That’s the reality of it. If it’s not today, it’s the next game, and it needs to happen,” he said.
“I’m not going to go into excuses. I’m not going to make excuses for anyone and anything. It’s just got to happen. Performances and results are the only way it’s going to give those fans encouragement.”
Demands of the Rangers Shirt
Butland also emphasised the unique pressures of playing for Rangers, urging the squad to fully grasp the expectations that come with representing the club.
“It’s not like any other club. It’s a special place, and it demands it all the time, day in, day out, from us all,” he said.
“That’s on guys like me, and everybody, to step up and do better, because that’s what the shirt deserves.”
With the season reaching a critical juncture, Rangers must rediscover their form quickly to keep their hopes of silverware alive. For Clement and his squad, the next few fixtures could define their campaign.
