In the wake of last night’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Dundee, Rangers find themselves in a deeper crisis than anyone could have anticipated just a week ago.
Coming off the high of their emphatic win against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side, the Ibrox faithful were brimming with confidence. That victory, achieved with vigor and determination, seemed to signal a turning point in their season.
A Rare Celtic Slip-Up in the “Old Firm Derby”
Celtic’s performance in the recent derby was uncharacteristically poor, especially away from home against a Rangers side desperate for a result.
Phillipe Clement and his team capitalized, leaving the match with a sense of bravado and renewed hope—a feeling only Rangers fans could muster after such a performance.
Belief surged that the title race was back on, and with a few January reinforcements, they could mount a serious challenge to their Glasgow rivals in the second half of the season.
The Growing Gap at the Top
However, just a week later, that optimism has evaporated. Last night’s draw against Dundee, a result that saw more points slip away, has pushed Rangers further behind Celtic in the title race—or what remains of it.
The gap at the top now stands at a staggering 15 points, leaving fans frustrated and questioning their team’s resilience.
Chris Sutton’s Stinging Remarks
In the aftermath, the Sky Sports panel featured a visibly disheartened Kris Boyd alongside James McFadden and former Celtic striker Chris Sutton.
Sutton, never one to shy away from a dig at Rangers, didn’t hold back, poking fun at Boyd’s beloved team for squandering the momentum they gained from their derby triumph.
Reflecting on the situation, Sutton said:
“You look at the Rangers squad. Does the jersey fit for a lot of these players?”
He continued, pointing to the deeper issues plaguing the club:
“I have said it before there is a losing mentality at the club and nothing really has changed. This isn’t just on Philippe Clement; this has been happening now for years and years. Celtic are laughing at them. Brendan Rodgers is cracking open the champagne this evening laughing at them. It is an embarrassment that we are in the early part of January and Celtic are 15 points clear at the top. That is shocking. It is amazing.”
Clement Under Fire
Sutton didn’t hold back on Clement either, expressing frustration with his continued excuses:
*”Myself and Kris thought Clement should have gone a long time ago but they are sort of at a crossroads now. Can this go on?
“Is Patrick Stewart going to look at the bigger picture and not just one game against Celtic where they raised their game or the odd game in Europe? Domestically I said before the game, Philippe Clement will come out and talk about Celtic having the bigger budget.”*
He added:
“But Rangers should not be dropping 19 points against sides with far lesser budgets and he never mentions that. We hear the excuses week in, week out now and it is about time he took ownership but he won’t. This Belgian waffle will carry on and on and won’t stop until a decision is made on him.”
With pressure mounting on Clement and the title race seemingly out of reach, Rangers face tough questions about their direction for the rest of the season. Fans will be watching closely to see if change is on the horizon.
