On the same weekend Rangers’ turgid domestic performances finally heralded dropped points, Celtic were swashbuckling in an away day trip to Tynecastle.
Whilst the Parkhead club once again came close to dropping points on the road in the Scottish Premiership, somehow our Old Firm rivals found a way in a 4-3 victory down the M8.
With the match played ahead of Rangers hosting the Lions at Ibrox, one would’ve hoped the Gers team would’ve viewed the situation as an opportunity to stand up and be counted.
But from the first whistle to the last – barring an inevitable late rally – Rangers were gutless, clueless, and in many ways the perfect example of why fans have been turning on Van Bronckhorst all season long.
In the end, Rangers rescued a point courtesy of a late Livingston red card and John Lundstram’s injury time leveller but it is soul-destroying that despite falling behind in the first four minutes the club couldn’t muster a response.
Livingston dug in, were disciplined, and did well to come away with a point in a 1-1 draw as the Rangers team shrunk into their jerseys at Ibrox.
Lack of responsibility at Rangers as Celtic take title-race seriously
We’ve spoken plenty about the so-called Horseshoe – the tactic of passing from right-back to left-back via both centre-backs repeatedly – and how Rangers’ turgid tactics have left fans uninspired.
But it’s not just in the contrast between playing styles that Rangers are lagging behind Celtic this season. Or in the amount of injuries at Ibrox.
In fact, there are many ways to win a game of football but even the most Gio-positive fan can see we are not playing winning football.
What this weekend highlights most is that the biggest discernible difference between the Rangers team and their Celtic rivals is responsibility.
When the chips have been down this season, Celtic have rallied from every corner. Against Ross County, St Johnstone and now Hearts their team have managed to snatch points from the clutches of the opposition.
From the manager to every player on the pitch, there has been a sense of responsibility that is clearly lacking at Ibrox.
Gio’s post-match press conferences are as charismatic as a wet sock at times and the manager really fails to get the message across that his team is fighting firstly for him but most importantly for the club and fans.
The less said about the disgraceful performances of some players who should’ve left long ago the better.
Rangers do not have that never-say-die sense of responsibility to the fans and club in the side and that is why – unlike our Celtic rivals – we don’t trust them to deliver for us when it matters most.
Speaking of Van Bronckhorst, how many more unacceptable Rangers results is he going to get?
