Philippe Clement's make or break Rangers run laid bare as he faces nightmare New Year and battle of the crisis clubs
Philippe Clement has been left with a huge headache before we even get to the Hogmanay party season. And the Belgian will have to hope he can find a cure for his Rangers team’s ills or it could be a very unhappy new year.
Twelve months ago the Light Blues defeated Motherwell away on Christmas Eve to move to within two points of Celtic with a game in hand at the Scottish Premiership summit after Clement had hauled them back into a title race that looked over before he succeeded Michael Beale.
But after a Boxing Day stuffing by St Mirren they are TWELVE points behind the Hoops ahead of another Fir Park trip - followed by that mammoth Ne’erday Old Firm derby showdown at Ibrox which is the first of NINE games in the first month of 2025. Here, Record Sport lays out the he run that could make or break the 50-year-old.
Motherwell (A), Scottish Premiership - 29/12
The Steelmen were hit for four at Parkhead just a couple of hours before Gers came a cropper in Paisley and will be smarting from that defeat. But after licking their wounds, Stuart Kettlewell’s men could pile the pain on Clement.
Celtic (H), Scottish Premiership - 2/1
This will be the SEVENTH attempt for the Belgian to try and put one over his fierce rivals - and my word, he needs to win this one. Any defeat would almost certainly leave them at least FIFTEEN points behind Celtic in the league (unless Celtic suffer unlikely dropped points to St Jonhnstone on Sunday). That scenario would leave him a dead man walking.
Hibs (A), Scottish Premiership - 5/1
David Gray is a name that will haunt Rangers after his Scottish Cup winner in 2016 and the Easter Road legend has got his team motoring after a sticky start to the season.
Gers won’t relish a trip to Leith.
Dundee (A), Scottish Premiership - 9/1
A midweek trip to Dens Park brings back memories of last season’s title collapse after a goalless draw against the Dark Blues. They face another one early in the new year, albeit Tony Docherty’s men haven’t been in the best form.
St Johnstone (H), Scottish Premiership - 12/1
The Perth side are rock bottom of the top flight but they made it tough for Rangers on their visit to Ibrox back in October. Simo Valakari’s men, though, is the type of game Clement would welcome at this stage.
Aberdeen (H), Scottish Premiership - 15/1
This will be a huge game in the battle for second place as Gers look for revenge for their defeat at Pittodrie earlier this season. If Jimmy Thelin’s men hadn’t hit the skids then they could have been in pole position to finish best of the rest. They are still very much in there but the Reds have let Clement off the hook a bit.
Fraserburgh (H), Scottish Cup - 19/1
If he gets this far, then this fixture will at least give Clement a bit of a break from the pressure with the Highland League outfit, certainly on paper, one of the easiest ties they could have got to start their road to Hampden.
Man Utd (A), Europa League - 23/1
There can’t be many teams who are in a bigger crisis than Rangers right now but unless new boss Ruben Amorim can get the Red Devils act together then this Battle of Britain will be a tie between two confidence-shorn clubs.
They are currently 14th in the Premier League after defeat to Wolves.
Dundee United (A), Scottish Premiership - 26/1
The fact Celtic were held to a goalless draw at Tannadice last weekend is enough of a warning of what faces them with the Tangerines going well. Rangers did dig out a big win there earlier in the season thanks to Tom Lawrence (remember him?) but it won’t be easy.
USG (H), Europa League - 30/1
Gers run in Europe has been in contrast to their dismal domestic showings this season and this is the night they will learn their fate with the Belgians the visitors to Govan in their final league phase game. They will almost certainly progress - it’s just a question of whether they will advance straight to the last 16 of encounter a play-off.
