DINGWALL DISASTER RATTLES RANGERS
SLIP-UP: Todd Cantwell dejected at the Global Energy Stadium
PHILIPPE Clement branded their disaster in Dingwall the worst performance of his time at Rangers and warned his players they need to react in the title run-in.
The Light Blues lost their first ever game to Ross County, crashing 3-2 to the strugglers.
That costly slip-up leaves them four points behind Celtic, although they have their gamein-hand against Dundee on Wednesday.
Clement said: “We have now been six months together. I have not seen a performance in these six months like I saw today so we have to take the good lessons out of that and react.”
Clement is taking it one game at a time, starting with the Dundee game.
The Belgian stated: “I am not a mathematician so I do not know.
“We are going to go every game to win the game and we will see in the last two games what the ranking is.”
Shake
Clement failed to shake Don Cowie’s hand at the final whistle, although he did wait to speak with the Ross County boss after his press duties.
The Rangers boss explained: “I went inside directly to speak to the team but I will shake hands with him directly after, no problem.
“Nothing towards him, a lot of credit for him and what he has been doing here.”
Clement refused to blame last week’s Dundee fiasco but admitted it didn’t help preparations.
The match was called off for a second time on Wednesday.
It has now been rearranged for next week and if Dens Park isn’t playable it will be moved to a neutral venue, likely to be McDiarmid Park.
“Maybe it was part of what happened today but it is not an excuse,” said Clement.
“It’s been all week about anything except football around our club so maybe that influenced things, but it is not an excuse.
“We need to win games whatever the situation. I need to focus on the football and that is what we will do.”
ROSS County made their own piece of history — and blew a massive hole in Rangers’ Scottish Premiership title dream in the process.
Goals from Simon Murray, George Harmon and Josh Sims fired the Staggies to their first ever victory over the Light Blues.
It came at the 25th attempt as interim boss Don Cowie led the Highlanders to this famous win.
The Highlanders are now just one point off third-bottom St Johnstone.
As for Gers, they’re counting the cost of a sleepy Sunday in the Highlands. They have blown their advantage in the title race and given the initiative back to Celtic.
Philippe Clement’s side are now four points behind and Wednesday’s rearranged match with Dundee falls into the must-win category.
This is a game Rangers would have been expecting to win, but an early second-half collapse saw their trip to Dingwall turn into a disaster.
But it was Rangers who found the net first — in bizarre circumstances after 15 minutes.
James Tavernier’s out-swinging corner was flicked on by Abdallah
The Light Blues, however, looked vulnerable at the back and it took some heroics from Jack Butland to frustrate Sims.
Laidlaw at the other end also showed his worth as he clawed away a dipping Sima header.
The County keeper then pushed away Cyriel Dessers’ effort.
Level
County would have been equally bemused how they hadn’t gone in level at the interval after Eli King’s brilliant side flick found the unmarked Harmon free about 12 yards from goal but he blazed over.
They may have been down, but the