As far as a test of nerve goes, Sunday’s game in Dingwall showed Rangers badly lacking when it comes to having the required stomach for the run-in.
Instead, a sickening afternoon in Dingwall brought into sharp focus an impression that Philippe Clement’s side have taken their eye off the ball at the very time they needed a laser focus.
Clement has barely put a foot wrong since taking over from Michael Beale. A stat that circulated across social media in the aftermath of Sunday’s game suggested that in the cold light of day both are the same; 19 wins, 3 defeats and 2 draws across their opening 24 league games at Rangers.
Clement can point to the deliverance of a trophy and a team that have been far more organised and cohesive but he the failure to take the scalp of Celtic on two separate occasions leaves a significant question mark hanging over him.
With just two wins from their last seven games and three goals shipped across each of their last two league games, the optics do not suggest a team revving up for a title run-in.
If it would be premature to draw bold conclusions based on the defeat to a Ross County side who are fighting for their top flight lives. But on current evidence it would be tough to make an argument to suggest this is a team who have the credentials to go and claim the title.
It was not just that the late flurry against Ross County was a case of too little, too late but rather the pedestrian nature of a game where Rangers toiled to create much, as reflected in the goals they did score coming from an own-goal and a penalty.
The game against Dundee will reveal if Rangers have the ability to cope with the pressure of the run-in. Much was made of the Covid campaign when Ranges stopped Celtic winning a tenth successive title with a strong argument to suggest that the lack of crowds and the lack of pressure worked in their favour.
Celtic have not offered a compelling case for their Championship credentials across the entirety of the campaign but the return of Reo Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers has made a significant enough impression to offset the loss of Callum McGregor. The midfielder came off the bench during the win over St Mirren but is yet to look as though he is up to speed. Still, after a fairly turgid opening period against the Paisley side at the weekend they were able to up the ante.
Across recent weeks, it is the Parkhead side who look as though they have been over this course before with a manager who has previous when to comes to delivering.
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