WINTER BLUES ARRIVE EARLY MARK WILSON
Ibrox men’s title charge put firmly on ice by Hippolyte
FOR Rangers, November really isn’t turning out to be a month to remember. This final Championship match before the calendar flips extended that notion courtesy a distinctly forgettable performance.
The eight-point lead over Hibernian that existed at the end of October has now been replaced by parity at the top of the table. Any idea of a procession towards promotion has frozen and cracked as autumn turns to winter.
Off the field, the month has also witnessed the return of issues many supporters would have pushed to the back of their minds as they revelled in the thrilling early-season form of Mark Warburton’s team.
Employee Benefit Trusts — operated during Sir David Murray’s tenure — suddenly re-emerged as very potent words within Scottish football when HMRC won their second appeal at the Court of Session.
Emotions unquestionably run high on that topic. Of greater importance to the cold, hard business of the present day, however, is the ongoing conflict between the Rangers hierarchy and Mike Ashley.
This month has seen three separate legal actions from the Sports Direct billionaire come to light. An alleged breach of a gagging order by Ibrox chairman Dave King is being pursued, while Ashley is also seeking a judicial review of the SFA’s decision to pass King as fit and proper for office.
And late last week, Ashley’s legal team were at the Court of Session attempting to block three resolutions due to be heard at the club’s AGM this Friday.
An interim interdict was granted against one, the special resolution which sought to remove voting rights from any shareholder involved in another club. Ashley, of course, has a nine-per-cent stake in Rangers as well as a controlling interest at Newcastle United.
The presence of that gagging order won by Sports Direct back in June will mean Ibrox directors can say little about the commercial deals at the root of the Ashley situation when they face shareholders at the Clyde Auditorium.
But there are other key areas that can be addressed. And assurances over plans for the January transfer window could well be sought from the floor.
Clearly, there is no need for panic on the football front. Rangers have dropped only five points all season. And, on December 1, they will play their game in hand against Dumbarton. Victory would restore a three-point cushion over Hibs.
Yet this display against Livingston underlined that assistance may be needed to get over the line ahead of their Leith rivals. There is no sign of the challenge from Easter Road fading.
After the game on Saturday, Warburton spoke about lacking a cutting edge in the final third. That was certainly evident. When Martyn Waghorn has an off day, as was the case here, then their front three can look short of any genuine goal threat.
Having initiated a complete overhaul of the squad since the summer, Warburton surely merits the ‘one or two’ additions he is seeking to kick Rangers on during the second half of the season.
Last month, a club statement said King and the ‘Three Bears’ consortium were committed to covering the financial shortfall and that additional loan facilities would be made available ‘as and when required’ for investment in the team. Over to you then, gents.
Of course, all else being equal, Warburton’s current resources should still be enough to see off Livingston. But the discipline and determination shown by Mark Burchill’s side meant this dip in form would not go unpunished. Rangers looked comfortable when Jason Holt netted his fifth goal of the season midway through the opening period. But Livingston entered the second half like a team renewed. Pressing their visitors high up the pitch, they drew level from a terrific 51stminute finish from Myles Hippolyte.
Livvy keeper Mark McCallum then produced one extraordinary save to deny a volley from substitute Kenny Miller.
But there was a lack of incision and cohesion about the frantic Rangers attempts to restore their lead.
‘It was very frustrating for us,’ admitted Holt. ‘Every game we go into, we want to try to get the three points, so we are disappointed not to have done that.
‘It’s down to us. We know the way teams will set up and how they will make it difficult for us, but it’s up to us to break them down.
‘I think the manager is right and we did lack a bit of quality. I thought we were on top in the first half, but we need to try to create more chances and take them.
‘We need to improve on today. Nothing’s changed as far as I am concerned. We know what we need to do — which is win every game.’
That, of course, is precisely what Hibs are doing just now, racking up eight straight league victories.
Rangers now top the Championship only on goal difference — but Holt insisted that they are paying no attention to their rivals.
‘We will concentrate on ourselves,’ he added. ‘The gaffer said at the start of the season that it’s all about us and we just have to focus on what we are doing.
‘We just need to keep doing the things we’ve been working on and do better. That’s our sole focus.’
Livingston lost 2-1 at Easter Road last midweek and so would seem perfectly placed to judge the merits of the two title challengers.
‘The bigger teams appeal to everyone, but I can’t put a finger on who will win as they’re both doing really well for themselves,’ said Hippolyte, whose side are now seventh in the table.
‘They are both at a similar level, I haven’t seen much of a difference between Hibs and Rangers. Good luck to them both in the race.
‘We should have come away with a draw from Hibs last week — that would have been fair enough — and I’m not saying we could have beaten Rangers, but we could have edged towards it.
‘A draw was a fair result in the end. Hopefully, a lot more results will go our way now.’