Ghosts of Christmas past at Ibrox

RANGERS return to action against Hibernian tomorrow night knowing that only a win will do. In all likelihood, that will be the case in every fixture between now and the end of the season.

The challenge is an ominous one for Michael Beale and the new Ibrox boss will be well aware of the history that his side must defy in the second half of the campaign.

Rangers have not had their issues to seek following a mid- season break in recent times. Here, we look at where it has all gone wrong more often than not.

SEASON 18/ 19

The celebrations told their own story at Ibrox as Ryan Jack secured a first Old Firm win since April 2016 and moved Steven Gerrard’s side level on points with Celtic at the top of the table.

The champions were ahead on goal difference and still had a game in hand. In the end, Brendan Rodgers guided Celtic to an eighth successive title and a winning margin of nine points.

Rangers saw their momentum halted and mood deflated in the first game back as they were beaten at Kilmarnock

and a wretched run in March, which ended with a 2- 1 defeat at Parkhead, saw Gerrard come up short in his first season as boss.

SEASON 19/ 20

Another Old Firm victory, another false dawn. Rangers made the journey back across Glasgow with a spring in their step again and it was Gerrard’s side who had the game in hand this time around after Nikola Katic’s famous derby winner.

Gerrard’s demeanour post- match was even more animated on this occasion

but it again proved in vain as Rangers struggled after the break and a trip to Dubai that did not give them the platform to go on and halt nine- in- a- row.

The campaign was curtailed due to Covid and a points- per- game ratio used to hand Celtic the title. Rangers had blown it by that stage, though, as a series of lacklustre performances and results saw history repeat itself and questions raised about Gerrard.

SEASON 20/ 21

Gerrard would answer those critics

emphatically the following term. This time around, there was no break to disrupt Rangers and knock them off their stride and their march to a historic 55th Premiership title was relentless.

The champions were well- worthy of their 25- point winning margin in the end as Celtic’s dreams of “The Ten” were left shattered and Gerrard gave supporters a reason to be cheerful through some of the darkest days of the pandemic.

A 1- 0 win over Neil Lennon’s side in early January all but won the title. Rangers would not make the same

mistake for a third time and the lack of a mid- season hiatus was certainly an advantage that they made the most of.

SEASON 21/ 22

The break was back. And so were the issues that had cost Rangers their chances of silverware in the first two seasons of Gerrard’s reign as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side fell into an all too familiar trap.

A 2- 0 win over St Mirren saw Rangers head into the break with a six- point lead at the top of the table and the

champions had 56 in their sights. Once again, Rangers were masters of their own downfall and defeat to Aberdeen in the first game back set the tone for the second half of the Premiership campaign.

The Europa League feel- good factor was never harnessed domestically and the 3- 0 and 2- 1 losses to Celtic were hammer blows. Van Bronckhorst’s side were in a position of strength but a fourweek shutdown tripped them up as Celtic again motored across the winning line.