Abdallah Sima, currently on loan at Rangers from Brighton, has opened the door to a return to Ibrox next season after admitting he feels happy at the club. (Herald, external)
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip here.
Image source, SNSPhilippe Clement is keen to learn which of his Rangers players can deal with adversity after dropping five points in two games.
The Ibrox side have a chance to snap out of their slump when they face Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday, with the Belgian boss admitting belief in the dressing room has been dented.
“If you win 10 games in a row then you have more belief if you lose two times," Clement said.
"But this is Rangers. This is a club that where you always need to fight and every point you lose it’s like you are going to hell.
"It’s also the challenge. It’s now interesting to see which players can live in that way but it’s an exciting place to be.
"Because on the other side, you can also go to heaven when you win games and win trophies.
“In other teams where it’s not so important to win points or it’s when it’s not something dramatic, when you lose points you cannot go to heaven also as those are not the clubs that win trophies. This is something you need to embrace.”
Rangers manager Philippe Clement reflects on his side's defeat at Ross County and draw at Dundee in the past week as he prepares for Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSRangers manager Philippe Clement has been facing the media ahead of his side's Scottish Cup semi-final with Hearts on Sunday.
Here are the key points:
Says Dujon Sterling's explicit post-match comments were a sign of inexperience in dealing with the media, doubling down in his belief that they played better in Dundee than Dingwall.
Tough spell is allowing him to "learn more" about the players, adding the pressure to win every game isn't new to him after being in charge at Club Brugge.
Insists Rangers are on the "right road" but there will be "bumps" along the way. No one is more critical than him and it's why he relishes being at a club like Rangers.
"Everyone is excited" for Scottish Cup semi-final with Hearts on Sunday, saying there's a "hunger" and "desire" in his camp to win more trophies.
Mohamed Diomande is available, but Rivdan Yilmaz remains a "question mark".
Phillipe Clement has some big decisions to make after Rangers followed up their defeat in Dingwall with a draw in Dundee.
Away from league action, the Ibrox side head to Hampden for a semi-final showdown with Hearts.
Who do you want to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.
As they prepare to go head to head in the semi-finals on Sunday, watch the previous Scottish Cup meeting of Hearts and Rangers when the Ibrox side prevailed 2-0 in extra time to lift the trophy in 2022.
Image source, SNSDujon Sterling admits Rangers are lacking belief after a string of poor performances where it looked like their “season is dead”.
The damaging goalless draw at Dundee in midweek left Philippe Clement’s side three points behind Premiership leaders Celtic with five games left, including a trip to Parkhead.
Having won just two of their last eight games across all competitions, Rangers face Hearts at Hampden on Sunday for a place in the Scottish Cup final.
"We owe ourselves a performance as well because we have been s*** the past three games,” said utility player Sterling.
"We need to reset and do it for the fans as well because they have come home and away, backing us, singing for 90, 95, 100 minutes and we owe it to them.
"Obviously the results have been disappointing in the past two weeks and I know they have seen it before over the past years. Hopefully we can change that but we will see.
"We are fighting for a title and the way we are playing is as if we are not playing for anything, like the season is dead and it is a dead rubber game.
"Somehow it has got to switch. I don't have the words to do it or know how to do it. It is a team thing, not just one person and not just the gaffer.
"We just have to have that belief that we can (come back). We had the togetherness, we had the belief. We still have the togetherness but I don't know if the belief is there.
"I think everyone has to switch their minds that we can have that belief that we can do this. It is not good enough on our part."
Ipswich Town are set to sign Rangers midfielder John Lundstram as a free agent this summer after his wage demands scuppered a move to Turkish side Trabzonspor. (Gunebakis via Daily Record, external)
Former Ibrox striker Kris Boyd believes Rangers' title bid is over after they made it three league games without a win for the first time since 2019. (Sky Sports), external
Rangers' unexpected slump "raises a lot of unwanted questions about mentality, character and desire", says disappointed former skipper Barry Ferguson. (Daily Record), external
Falkirk captain Stephen McGinn says Rangers would be clear at the top of the Premiership if they had signed Lawrence Shankland from Heart of Midlothian in January - and was staggered by Kemar Roofe's recall at Dundee. (Go Radio via Daily Record, external)
Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNS'I'm not surprised' Naismith on Rangers' form
Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSAt the end of February, Rangers solidified their title credentials by thumping in-form Hearts at Ibrox before grinding out a gutsy win at Rugby Park - a venue that has haunted them in recent years.
Six weeks later, their hopes of lifting the Premiership have been seriously dented, perhaps beyond repair.
Having won just once in their last five league outings, the wheels have seemingly come off when it matters most and Rangers trail leaders Celtic by three points with five post-split fixtures to come. But what's gone wrong?
The top-flight's meanest defence has been bullied in recent weeks. Rangers have conceded nine goals in this rotten run of five games, the same tally as in the previous 21 since Philippe Clement's arrival in October.
That's with a clean sheet in their abject draw at Dens Park on Wednesday night.
The travelling support could scarcely believe what they were seeing in Dundee. Five-yard passes seemed beyond the visitors. There was a worrying lack of urgency or guile.
In the view of Sportsound pundit Rory Loy, it could point to a familiar story of Rangers' failure to rise to the occasion.
"I don't think that Rangers have dealt well with the pressure," the former Ibrox striker said.
"Some of their stalwarts, [James] Tavernier, [Connor] Goldson, [John] Lundstram, have been in this position before and they don't react well to it. They can't seem to handle it."
Clement has consistently tinkered with his starting line-up since arriving in Govan, but in recent weeks his decisions have been drawing confusion from the support.
The plummeting performance on the pitch has been equally bemusing. The defence has dropped off dramatically. Lundstram has gone from rejuvenated to ragged.
In forward areas, Cyriel Dessers continues to frustrate, Abdallah Sima is still getting up to speed and Fabio Silva flatters to deceive.
The Belgian boss may be defending his players publicly, but behind closed doors, the need for an overhaul in the summer may never have been more stark.
Joshua Barrie, editor of the Rangers Review, told BBC Scotland: "They had got themselves back into the title race, they were winning games they hadn't beforehand.
"It felt like this mentality that had evaded them in previous season had turned up under Clement.
"It's important to caveat it with the fact Clement has overachieved since he arrived. He's performed above expectation, perhaps this is just expectation catching up with him. The players look tired and are hitting a bad run of form at the worst time."
Image source, SNSRangers' lack of experience in the title race may have cost them, says former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson.
The Ibrox side followed up their defeat at Ross County with a goalless draw at Dundee, leaving them five points behind leaders Celtic with five games to go.
"They're obviously three points and they have to go to Celtic," Stevenson told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Goal difference is in Celtic's favour, so it's going to be difficult given the damage the last two results have done.
"You expect Rangers to go to Ross County and win, but it can happen. The manner of the Dundee game, you're thinking whether someone can take the game by the scruff of its neck. It just petered out.
"There's no way tiredness can come into it, they've got the best recovery. Guys on building sites are tired, footballers can't be tired.
"You could see the pressure, for some of the players it was just too much. Maybe they don't have the experience of the title race.
We asked for your thoughts after Rangers' title hopes were dealt another blow by their goalless draw at Dundee.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Dougie: How to hand over the league in two simple steps. I will await Tavernier coming out to apologise for the performance, saying it wasn't to the standard and that lessons have been learnt. Half this squad needs to be gone next season, enough is enough.
Robert: Rangers lack the bottle when the chips are down.
Anon: Well that's our season over then. Two awful performances in a row, and bar beating our great rivals away, the season is set to end in a damp squib. Majorly disappointing.
Marty: Utterly abysmal to a man. A team of inept players, featuring serial losers Tavernier and Goldson. Three trophies in how many years? For the manager to say we were unlucky is surely to publicly protect the players, tell me he doesn't mean that. Big changes required.
Anon: If the Ross County defeat didn't confirm the league was gone, this dismal draw against Dundee just confirmed it. Too many Rangers players not at it again. Time for a clear out of Beale's bang average players & time for the board to back Clement financially.
Robert: The lack of leadership, hunger and desire were there for all to see from Rangers. Not one player willing to make things happen. Not signing a proven goalscorer in January has cost us. Could have played all night and not scored. I look at this Rangers team and don't see any leaders or winners. Every season the same thing happens.
Louise: I’m sure this is the point where some fans will start turning on Clement, but the fact he has come into the club and got us even within touching distance of Celtic is nothing short of a miracle given where we were before. Unfortunately, it was the players who became complacent when it mattered. I hope they can react on Sunday.
Image source, BBC SportWere you at Dens Park tonight where Rangers dropped another two points in the title race?
Give us your reaction here.
Image source, SNSRangers manager Philippe Clement: "We should have won this game, we were the best team by far.
"The most possession by far, the most chances. Things didn't go our side with saves from the goalkeeper and blocks from other players.
"We've always been a team who scores a lot of goals, that's disappointing not taking the deserved three points.
"Today, I was disappointed. I was angry after the Ross County game because we lost our structure and our football in a big part of the game.
"That was not the case today, we played attacking football with a lot of players in front."
Image source, SNSClive Lindsay, BBC Scotland Sport
For the second game in a row, a stranger to Scottish football would have had difficulty picking out this Rangers team as the title contenders.
Dundee's tigerish midfield appeared to have too much energy for their Rangers counterparts and, although Rangers gradually dominated the possession, it was laboured and lacking the creativity required to break down a well-organised home defence.
Clement had handed injury troubled Kemar Roofe a first start since December in place of Cyriel Dessers up front, but the Jamaica international looked too lightweight and lacking match fitness to trouble a Dundee defence seeking a second clean sheet in a row.
Rangers have gone from a position where they could have been two points ahead of Celtic by winning their two games in hand to one where, even if they win the final Old Firm derby of the season away to their city rivals, they will be behind on goal difference should both sides win their other four remaining games.
While the pressure looks to have been too great for Rangers to handle, Dundee have risen to the occasion in recent weeks with only one defeat in six outings.
Rangers had won their previous eight meetings between the sides by a 22-2 aggregate, with Dundee last avoiding defeat in December 2018.
However, these Dark Blues are a different beast under Tony Docherty and, despite it being their first season back in the top flight, have every right to be dreaming of bringing European nights back to Dens Park.
After two postponements because of the state of their pitch, the home fans will feel this was a game well worth waiting for.
Image source, SNSFor a second game in a row, there were few impressive performances in the Rangers side, but Dujon Sterling (left) was strong in defence and dangerous in attack after being restored at left-back in place of Borna Barisic in the 0-0 draw with Dundee.
Dundee manager Tony Docherty makes three changes to his starting line-up for Rangers' visit.
Two are in defence, where Owen Dodgson and Ricki Lamie come in for Antonio Portales and Aaron Donnelly following their goalless draw in Aberdeen.
Meanwhile, Malachi Boateng takes the place of Dara Costelloe in midfield, with the displaced trio all finding a place on the bench.
Kemar Roofe makes a rare start for Rangers as manager Philippe Clement makes three changes from the side that lost to Ross County on Sunday.
The injury troubled striker replaces Cyriel Dessers, who drops to the bench along with Borna Barisic and Kieran Dowell.
Dujon Sterling starts at left-back, while Tom Lawrence returns to central midfield.
Dundee: McCracken, Dodgson, Shaughnessy, McGhee, Tiffoney, Bakayoko, Cameron, Lamie, McCowan, Boateng, Sylla.
Substitutes: Carson, Astley, Main, Mulligan, Robertson, Donnelly, Mellon, Portales, Costelloe.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Sterling, Lundstram, Lawrence, Cantwell, Silva, Sima, Roofe.
Substitutes: McCrorie, Dessers, Matondo, Dowell, Davies, Barisic, King, Raskin, McCausland.
