Rangers played out a turgid 0-0 draw with Aberdeen at Ibrox in a result which tips the title scales even further in Celtic’s favour.
The result means Rangers have now dropped five points in their last three league games, opening up what is at the moment a four-point gap between the Ibrox club and Celtic.
In a game which almost certainly would’ve been won by one goal, do we need to ask questions as to why Alfredo Morelos was thwarted by Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis?
Don’t get me wrong – Aberdeen had an even better chance with Sam Cosgrove and without Allan McGregor today the result would’ve probably been worse.
But as Morelos flicked his boot at the outrushing Joe Lewis for Rangers’ most gilt-edged chance of the match, the fact he couldn’t get past him had a real feeling of rustiness.
In fact, Alfredo’s performance, on the whole, was rusty.
He didn’t get on the ball as much as usual, the Colombian looked laboured at times, he didn’t work as many opportunities for himself as the 23-year-old normally does.
Morelos hasn’t started for the first team since December. This is because of a ban he picked up for a rather needless second yellow card against Celtic in the 2-1 win at Parkhead.
It’s a result which is beginning to feel a million miles away and Rangers have been a million miles off it since then.
You get the feeling this might be a little different with a fully fit and firing Alfredo Morelos.
We can talk all day about whether Morelos would’ve scored in or influenced the match in the defeat against Hearts. His suspension meant the Colombian wasn’t involved.
But he was involved against Aberdeen and a fully-fit Morelos takes that chance against Aberdeen and probably makes another two or three for himself.
You can’t aim too much criticism at Alfie – he’s scored 28 goals and we’d probably be in pretty poor nick without him.
But if we are to somehow claw back the momentum in the title race, then our talismanic forward will be vital to doing so.
For him to be influential in that way, he needs to be on the pitch.
