As Rangers got out of St Johnstone with all three points, it ends a run of four games without an away league win which stretched back to the 2-0 victory over Hearts on December 12th.
It comes amid mounting pressure on manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who for the first time in his Rangers tenure is not being afforded the freedom entrusted him post-Steven Gerrard.
For all the Dutchman’s ship-steadying on his return to Govan, any goodwill has now evaporated as Rangers find themselves on the receiving end of a nine-point swing in the title race.
It’s telling that even in victory – a stuttering 1-0 win over the bottom of the table Perthshire side on a cabbage patch of a McDiarmid Park pitch – fan disgruntlement can be seen everywhere.
It’s often said that when you lose the Rangers support it’s nigh on impossible to win them back and Gio, for all his calm, is a man under mounting pressure and at risk of doing so.
Appearing now to stick with trusted lieutenants rather than rotate the team – unless to experiment with formations in must-win league games – the team has had a consistent look to it amid a heavy schedule.
But not only did van Bronckhorst make only one change from the abysmal 2-2 draw with Motherwell, but he also failed to make a sub despite having five of them available and seeing his side clearly flat out on their feet.
For ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd, it’s an inclination that van Bronckhorst doesn’t trust those in his squad with the nerves palpable and victory over the Saints vital.
“No he didn’t (make any subs), and he only made one at the weekend,” said Boyd [Sky Sports coverage of St Johnstone v Rangers 02/03/22].
“I don’t really think Giovanni van Bronckhorst trusts his squad. I think when you look at the European games, and the effort but in during the games against Borussia Dortmund there wasn’t many changes as well.
“You kind of get the feeling that if you want that opportunity, it’s not really coming for the Rangers players.
“I think that the ones have got the jersey, if they keep performing, there is a reluctance to change it.
‘It maybe tells us there might be an overhaul to come in the summer.
“I think the last few games have told us he doesn’t trust a squad a lot.”
Rangers fans scrutinise van Bronckhorst performance despite Saints win
As for van Bronckhorst himself – looking increasingly less like his calm and composed self by the match – Rangers fans were frustrated with his post-match comments on St Johnstone.
Between “three points and home” and claiming the second half against relegation fodder was about “surviving”, it’s clear van Bronckhorst at least was concerned mostly about getting out of Perth with the win.
But for supporters, yet another uninspired domestic performance was met with railing negativity as fans criticise the team and staff for looking to settle for narrow leads rather than kill games off.
Win or not, having been in this position consistently as of late, the club’s fans have seen it backfire too often.
Whilst van Bronckhorst is right – earning all three points against the Saints was all that mattered after a stuttering Rangers run – you only need to look around you to see that the sentiment is turning.
For the first time it feels like the Rangers support are losing patience and Giovanni van Bronckhorst is under increasing pressure to start getting it right.
If Rangers let the league title slip, attention will turn to the January window as the Ibrox club appear to gamble on a £40m Champions League jackpot.
