Pressure piles up on Pedro as two pivotal derbies loom for Gers ...one they cannot lose – the other they simply MUST not lose

TALKING RANGERS

ONE derby down, two to go. One is a must win, the other is a must not lose. After dropping another two Premiership points at the Energy Check at Firhill Stadium on Friday night, Rangers will make the short trip across Glasgow once again tomorrow evening.

Having missed out on top spot in the Premiership, a Betfred Cup semi-final berth is now in Pedro Caixinha’s sights as the Gers look to head into their clash with Celtic this weekend on the back of a much-needed win.

There were few positives for Caixinha to take on Friday night as Rangers once again slipped up.

In his six months in charge, he has yet to win three successive league games and Rangers remain consistently inconsistent.

A hat-trick of successes against their Glasgow counterparts would have eased the pressure on the Portuguese’s shoulders but the spotlight is now shining brightly on him once again.

The Thistle clash was a game that Rangers could easily have won, but also one that they could easily have lost as chances were spurned and opportunities were given up to a side that have yet to record a victory in the Premiership this term.

The opening goal from Alfredo Morelos – a clinical, powerful finish beyond keeper Ryan Scully – should have given Rangers the impetus to go on and follow up their wins over Ross County and Dundee with another topflight triumph.

There was always the feeling that Thistle were more than in the game, though, and Rangers were never completely in control. In the end, it took a moment of magic from Graham Dorrans to salvage a share of the spoils.

It wasn’t a performance or a result to inspire confidence amongst supporters ahead of two matches that could shape Rangers’ season,, and potentially Caixinha’s Ibrox brox future.

The Old Firm fixtures xtures always stand out on the schedule and the four meetings tings with Brendan Rodgers’ s’ side in the top flight will be crucialrucial for Caixinha this term.m.

In all likelihood, od, Celtic will also stand between ween the Portuguese and his is first silverware in Scotland nd if Rangers can continue to dream of Hampden glory.

The head-to-heads ads with their oldest rivals are the days that can define a season,son, that can make or break a manager.

Having already y suffered a bloody nose in thehe Scottish Cup and beenn on the end of a recorddbreaking defeat at Ibrox, Caixinha can ccaann ill-afford to sustain anotheroth barrage of blows from CelticC this weekend. He must prove that he h has learned the lessons fr from that humiliating day on home soil as Rodgers’ side ran riot and inflicted Rang Rangers’ worst ever Old Firm defeat in front of their own fans. The t team that lined up that day may have been vastly inferior to Celtic, but Caixinha didn’t h help his cause with the way he set his side up and he couldn couldn’t inspire them to per- form above the lowly levels at which they had operated for most of the campaign.

IT WAS the darkest day of last season for the Gers and the blackest mark on Caixinha’s CV. Well, until that night in Luxembourg.

With doubters to win over and critics to silence, the 46-year-old would surely struggle to survive such a comprehensive defeat again and a repeat would lead to fierce questions over his ability and suitability for the position.

Having overhauled his Ibrox ranks, Caixinha will be confident that the outcome can be different this time around and that he can make it third time lucky against Rodgers.

Many supporters won’t share his optimism, though.

Over the course of the campaign, this squad won’t be strong enough to prevent Celtic securing seven-in-a-row.

In terms of a one-off, Rangers are better equipped for the challenge than they were in April. But they will still head into derby day as huge underdogs and there