‘Absolute disgrace Rangers are in this position’ – what now for Clement?

On Christmas Day, Rangers lost to Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic by nine points.

A little over a week later, they won the Old Firm derby.

Yet somehow, they’re already absurdly worse off than they were just a fortnight ago.

Celtic now have a 15-point advantage following Rangers’ pathetic draw with Dundee on Thursday, their eighth consecutive away loss.

“Scandalous.”

Billy Dodds, a former Rangers striker, described his former team’s recent league outings at Ibrox. Curiously, they seem to be fine in Europe.

But in 11 Premiership games, they have enjoyed just three wins – at Dundee United, St Johnstone and Ross County. And two of those goals were singular.

“It’s horrendous for a club of Rangers ‘ stature”, Dodds added on BBC Sportsound. “You’re not putting in a challenge, never mind winning a title with that form”.

Post-match, manager Clement agreed. When his team only managed 13 points out of a possible 33 on their travels, it’s difficult not to notice.

More than anything, this perhaps illustrates the point…

“It’s done. It’s over to Patrick Stewart now. This can’t continue, it’s impossible”.

Kris Boyd, the former Rangers striker, resisted resuming the game and insisting that his team would return, refocus, and recover.

The Belgian boss also reiterated this is a new, young squad, hampered by injuries.

Although Dundee have 10 first-team players already, the latter cannot be questioned, but Clement has already assembled his team for more than a year.

Growing pains are no longer an excuse.

So what, if any, progress has been made during Clement’s reign?

He held onto a piece of silverware in the League Cup, but he lost it last month in a contentious Celtic defeat in the final game.

Rangers’ city rivals were seven points clear when he took over in October 2023.

The trophy’s destination was still a mystery at this point last year. This January, Celtic Park has already been punched into the satnav.

Yes, Clement finally defeated Celtic on 2 January at Ibrox but, since then, he’s seen his side drop four points. One step forward, two steps back.

“You can talk about progress, there’s none”, Boyd fumed. “You absolutely destroyed Celtic a week ago, and you’re struggling for confidence?

It was in danger of being drowned out by the boos from Dens Park when referee Calum Scott peeped his full-time whistle.

The travelling support were able to keep warm on a bitterly cold night in Dundee by pointy, disgusting screams from the soles of their icy feet.

They had to get used to this season all too well by the evening.

Vaclav Cerny only attempted once as the clock ran out, but the Rangers team had no idea what was on the cards for an offensive.

” I just don’t think the players, the manager or the fans believe they can go on and win a game like this, “former Rangers striker Rory Loy said on Sportsound.

Exasperated, angered, exhausted – whatever the predominant emotion is, Clement says he shares it.

He “knows” that the fans’ “very vocal frustration” was once again demonstrated as the players “plodded off the pitch.”

However, they have seen a collapse against Hibs and suffered from performances against St. Mirren and Motherwell since Christmas.

Now, they can add another night where their side shrunk when it mattered.

The fans will now be discussing the club’s and manager’s future with this outcome.