Rangers signed off the last block of fixtures before the international break with a comfortable 2-0 win over St Johnstone and yet there were still moans and groans.
The Ibrox support has never been an easy one to please and the sight of both Celtic and Aberdeen sitting five points clear above their club only adds to the frustration.
In six games since the last international interference, Rangers won five and lost once – against big-spending Lyon in the Europa League – they also didn’t concede a goal domestically.
Rangers next fixtures in Scottish Premiership and Europa League
This is the sort of form that the manager will be looking for in the next block of fixtures with domestic and European games that could shape the season.
These are the games that Rangers and Philippe Clement have to contend with:
Kilmarnock vs Rangers – Sunday 20th October 12pm
For once, a Sunday game could be a blessing in disguise.
It gives players like Nedim Bajrami and Vaclav Cerny an extra day to recover from international duty ahead of what is never an easy fixture.
The situation in the league means that three points is a must.
The top two meet the day before at Parkhead, someone, or both, will be dropping points.
Rangers must take advantage.
Rangers vs FCSB – Thursday 24th October 8pm
The Europa League returns and three points in this game would put Clement’s men in a great position to progress to at least the play-off round.
With Spurs and Man Utd on the horizon, this is the type of game where a Malmo-esque performance is required.
Rangers vs St Mirren – Sunday 27th October 3pm
A slightly longer recovery and a home game is the perfect fixture after a European game and this is the last game of Ianis Hagi’s suspension.
The red card on his comeback, although unintentional and unlucky, was the right decision.
Aberdeen vs Rangers – Wednesday 30th October 8pm
Thankfully, Aberdeen also have games either side of this one so, they don’t have the advantage of a full week’s rest to prepare for it.
Pittodrie is never an easy place to go to and they will be expecting, not hoping, to take points off Rangers given their start to the season.
It’s up to Clement to prove them wrong and for Rangers to put down a marker.
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ST MirrenST Mirren
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Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian
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Rangers vs Motherwell – Sunday 3rd November 3pm
It’s a return to Hampden for the Premier Sports Cup semi-final in a replay of the earlier league fixture between the two sides.
Aberdeen or Celtic wait on the other half of the draw and Rangers will be looking to retain the first trophy won under Clement.
Olympiacos vs Rangers – Thursday 7th November 5:45pm
Last season’s Europa Conference League winners will provide stiff opposition as the friendly between the two sides in pre-season under Michael Beale proved when Rangers were given the runaround at Ibrox.
There have been a lot of changes since then and they have started their campaign in similar fashion, one win, one defeat.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| 2 | AberdeenAberdeen | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 21 |
| 3 | RangersRangers | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 |
| 4 |  MotherwellMotherwell | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 6 | ST MirrenST Mirren | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
| 7 |  Ross CountyRoss County | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 7 |
| 8 |  DundeeDundee | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 6 |
| 9 | KilmarnockKilmarnock | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 6 |
| 10 |  HibernianHibernian | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 5 |
| 11 |  ST JohnstoneST Johnstone | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 19 | -11 | 4 |
| 12 | Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 2 |
Rangers vs Hearts – Sunday 10th November 3pm
The final fixture of the block sees Hearts come to Ibrox and Rangers will be looking to make amends for the draw on matchday one – the only points that the Tynecastle side have managed to acquire all season.
The league can’t be won in November but being five points behind already, it would give Rangers a mountain to climb if the gap got any bigger.
Philippe Clement can’t do anything about what Celtic are doing on the other side of the city.
If he can lead his side to a similar domestic run and four points in the Europa League, the feeling in the support would greatly improve in terms of confidence that Rangers are on the right tracks.
Failure at home and abroad would see the pressure increase on Clement even more ahead of a January transfer window that can’t come quick enough.
