The pressure on Giovanni van Bronckhorst is building as Rangers record yet another unacceptable result against Livingston.
After Celtic had mustered the strength to come through at Tynecastle, all eyes were on Govan and how Rangers would respond against the Lions.
But a weak and tepid display – a consistent feature of the side this season – failed to scrape three points when the chips were down and the Gers lost more ground in the title race after a 1-1 draw.
The club had to be rescued by an injury time John Lundstram equaliser against the 10 men of Livingston.
There are now four points behind the Ibrox club and their Parkhead rivals but despite having the majority of the season to go, it’s not just the points gap which has fans incensed and – reluctantly – worried.
Rangers are not playing well. They haven’t really played well all season.
A smattering of results aside, the Ibrox side have been hobbling through the campaign, quite literally, and there is a striking lack of belief in both the team and the fans that it’s going to change.
Ultimately, this boils down to the manager and it’s becoming increasingly hard to find strong voices in the support who are rallying behind him.
Whilst the club have managed to keep pace in the title race the results haven’t matched the performances and against Livingston the Gers’ luck finally ran out.
One dimensional. Boring. Uninspiring. Lifeless. That’s how a large bulk of the matches watching Rangers under van Bronckhorst feel and it’s difficult to find any way back from here.
It feels a matter of when rather than if.
Despite that Rangers continue with the Dutchman and his coaching staff – who won’t be cheap to release – as the club’s domestic campaign threatens to derail before a ball is kicked at the World Cup.
So far this season it’s been the league form – although not performances – which have been keeping Van Bronckhorst in a job. If that changes not even the Rangers board can justify keeping him in charge.
Yes, Van Bronckhorst has delivered a Europa League Final, a Scottish Cup and a spot in the Champions League.
But he also overseen a dramatic Premiership collapse in the title race last season and his team are threatening to throw in the towel before we’ve even hit halfway this time around.
Unacceptable results under Van Bronckhorst continue at Rangers
There’s no sugar-coating it. A draw at home to Livingston is an unacceptable result for Rangers.
This follows on from – this season alone – unacceptable results against Celtic at Parkhead and Ajax and Liverpool in the Champions League.
As Napoli away looms large – and giving his 10-men the benefit of the doubt in the home leg – the worst could yet be to come.
Then Rangers face a tricky tie against northeast rivals Aberdeen at Ibrox. Given the current level of application in the Ibrox team there’s a genuine fear our league campaign might not make it beyond next weekend.
We’re bracing ourselves v Napoli. We’re more nervous about Aberdeen.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to see how Van Bronckhorst can continue as things are but a poor week and there’s no justification for keeping him around.
One more unacceptable Rangers result before we reach mid-November and it has got to be curtains.
That’s if it isn’t already.
Meanwhile, one Rangers star wants to end his career at Ibrox.
