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Pundits claim Rangers are on the brink of 'crisis' as Michael Stewart also weighs in on Ibrox future

Alan Hutton likes the look of two Rangers transfer targets
-Credit: (Image: SNS Group)


Former Rangers star Alan Hutton has claimed his old club are "just one step away" from a full-on crisis.

The one-time Ibrox right-back revealed he expected Rangers to batter Hibs at the weekend after a hugely-encouraging performance in the Europa League win over Malmo. But Hutton was left worried they failed to put the foot on the pedal at Ibrox, with the narrow 1-0 victory making it four wins from four and no goals conceded since their defeat to Celtic.

Tom Lawrence struck the only goal of the game before Jack Butland came to the rescue when he saved Mykola Kukharevych’s penalty attempt. And the display didn’t impress Hutton or fellow pundit Michael Stewart who both believe things could go awry at any moment for Philippe Clement’s side.

Hutton, speaking on the Scottish Football Social Club, said: "They huffed and puffed. This was off the back of a really good performance in Malmo, probably their best of the season. But I just expected them to go and put their foot down. When Hibs get the penalty, and for me it was a penalty... I was worried, thinking if it's 1-1, where does this end up? Hibs became the better team in the second half, Rangers struggled, and you could feel the tension build in the stadium.

Michael Stewart
Michael Stewart

"I kept on thinking it's as if they're just one step away from being in a crisis. That's the moment it felt like, going from an amazing performance to that, it was a worry."

And Stewart agreed as he added: "Watching that game, after all the positivity in Sweden, had that result against Hibs not been three points, it would have been (a crisis). The pressure would have been intense and it would have been so much negativity thrown right back onto the team. It wasn't far away from being that. Hibs performed pretty well, but they didn't win, and Rangers did. That ultimately is the most important thing."