Rangers step back from 'cliff edge' with restorative win

Rangers took a measurement backmost from what erstwhile Ibrox striker Billy Dodds suggests was "a cliff edge" to their play arsenic they survived a stiff trial against unbeaten Dundee United to debar dropping further down successful nan title race.

Manager Philippe Clement suggests that nan 1-0 triumph showed "we are connected nan correct track" contempt a squad rebuild aft which "we request clip to activity connected things".

But clip is ne'er a friend successful nan Old Firm head-to-head astatine nan apical of nan Scottish Premiership and erstwhile Celtic striker Chris Sutton claims "Rangers could easy spell betwixt now and 2 January and not suffer different crippled successful Scotland" yet still not constrictive nan five-point gap.

So wherever does nan triumph astatine Tannadice time off Clement's Rangers successful their bid to wrest nan title distant from their metropolis rivals?

Clement was delighted pinch "a large consequence because it's a difficult spot to travel to", particularly arsenic he "felt nan synergy betwixt nan fans and nan team".

However, erstwhile Rangers striker Kris Boyd suggested connected Sky Sports that, had they not responded to their 3-0 Old Firm derby conclusion pinch a victory, fans would person been waiting astatine Ibrox "showing their dissatisfaction".

Dodds agreed, saying connected BBC Scotland's Sportsound: "They are connected a cliff separator conscionable now you consciousness pinch nan Rangers fans. You tin spot them backing nan team, trying to get them complete nan line, because they cognize really tense and tense it is retired there.

"Rangers were vulnerable, but they sewage nan occupation done. They are going to person to conscionable support chipping distant until it gets better."

Fellow erstwhile Rangers striker Steven Thompson "wasn't overly impressed".

"At nan commencement of nan game, they were agleam and energetic," he said.

"You spot astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd half, United started to property Rangers and it unsettled them a wee bit. On different day, they mightiness person ended up pinch a draw."

Having ended United's eight-game unbeaten run, Rangers must now attraction connected chasing reigning champions Celtic and rejuvenated Aberdeen, who person besides won each 5 of their opening convention games nether caller head Jimmy Thelin.

"Whether Aberdeen tin support it remains to beryllium seen, but you don't deliberation Celtic are going to beryllium dropping galore points easy this season," Thompson said.

"They are going to beryllium a very difficult squad to get immoderate points disconnected of, truthful Rangers couldn't spend to travel present coming and driblet points and spell further behind."

Sutton believes Rangers person until Celtic sojourn connected 2 January to beryllium they person narrowed nan gap.

"They are down them astatine this infinitesimal successful time," he said connected Sky Sports. "This year, it looks arsenic if Rangers person went nan different measurement and Celtic person improved.

"Rangers will decorativeness 2nd and decorativeness 2nd comfortably, but astatine nan extremity of nan day, nan benchmark is Celtic."

Clement was astatine pains to accent again that he is building a squad nether restraints that demanded he trim wages and put successful "young talented players".

So really acold down nan rebuild roadworthy is nan Belgian?

"Anybody who tin get themselves fresh and play a bully tally of games, tin get themselves into this squad - location is thing group successful stone," Dodds suggested.

However, he and Thompson agreed that, pinch skipper James Tavernier cemented successful astatine right-back and Jefte assured of a commencement of nan near successful nan absence of nan injured Ridvan Yilmaz, nan backmost 4 practically picks itself.

That is contempt Thompson saying summertime presence Robin Propper "doesn't look overly convincing, different times he does - I've still to make my mind up connected him".

However, some work together chap centre-back John Souttar has been Rangers champion player.

As for nan midfield, Boyd does "not spot their midfield trio controlling games for illustration Celtic power games".

However, Dodds and Thompson judge Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande person nailed down 2 of nan cardinal midfield spots.

That leaves nan 2 helping berths, nan number 10 role, and nan striker domiciled itself up for grabs.

"He’s still striving to find his champion XI and, successful guardant areas, it’s astir knowing operation play and connecting," suggested Boyd. "The first extremity was a bully illustration of 2 players connected nan aforesaid wavelength - Dessers and Lawrence."

Dodds noticed Rangers fans becoming expressing vexation astatine Dessers pulling retired of a situation astatine Tannadice.

"Overall, Dessers has done good and has a bully extremity ratio again, but nan Rangers fans are still undecided connected him," Dodds said.

"Can they find different striker who is consistently fresh who tin put unit connected him? And tin Dessers respond and not person disconnected days arsenic often arsenic he does?"

Lawrence scored nan only extremity astatine Tannadice, but Dodds noted that nan Wales midfielder "at times drifts retired of nan game".

Thompson thought Nedim Bajrami "had a mates of bully touches" erstwhile nan Albania winger made his debut disconnected nan chair aft signing from Sassuolo, while summertime presence from Moroccan nine AS FAR Hamza Igamane impressed him more.

"Whenever he sewage nan ball, he tried to make things happen," he added. "He looks for illustration he has a batch of potential, nan young man."

The erstwhile Rangers trio work together that it is each astir "gradual improvement" and Clement uncovering his "best team" - while still winning.