Rangers told title race 'game's a bogey' if certain setbacks continue as call to arms sent by ex star
The Light Blues’ title hopes were dented on Sunday in their 3-2 defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox
Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton believes Rangers have no chance of winning the title if they continue going two goals down and giving themselves a mountain to climb.
In their last two, Danny Rohl’s side have went 2-0 down to Falkirk and Motherwell respectively. Against the Bairns, they were able to overturn the deficit, eventually prevailing 6-3, while at home to Motherwell on Sunday, they also managed to come back as they drew level, however a late sucker punch from Emmanuel Longelo gave the visitors three points.
Conceding twice before half time isn’t something Rangers fans are used to full stop, never mind in consecutive weeks. As they now sit four points behind league leaders Hearts and a point behind Celtic, there is now no margin for error. Hutton thinks if Rangers continue to get off to a bad start in their remaining four fixtures that they can kiss goodbye to any title hopes. Speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa man also questioned the tactics of manager Danny Rohl in the Steelmen defeat.
Ex Rangers star questions whether player know what’s at stake
When asked by host Darrell Currie if Rangers were prepared for the challenge against Motherwell on Sunday, Hutton responded: “That's the million-dollar question! I mean, if you can't get up for a game like that (then what can you get up for), when you know how difficult the fixtures are that are coming up as well. And that's not to take your eye off the ball. You know you've got hearts on Monday, then you need to play Celtic. But I don't know. If players can't get up for it, your guess is as good as mine as to why that is, because they were miles off it. You know exactly what they're up against.
He was then asked whether the players actually don’t understand what iss at stake, to which he replied: “I would hope that's not the case. They must. If they don't win on Monday, it's done. Game’s a bogey. It's over, if they go out and put that first half performance on. Even in the Falkirk game in the first half, they get a goal before half-time, which gives them an opportunity to get back into it. But it was the same kind of performance (against Motherwell). Again, it takes substitutes to come on and something to happen for you to get back in the game and ultimately, it's not good enough.”
Hutton on Rohl errors
Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore was a notable omission from the starting XI on Sunday. The 18-year old is reportedly carrying an injury but still come on to change the game against Motherwell alongside fellow half time substitutes James Tavernier and Mohamed Diomande. Hutton thinks from now on Rohl but play his best team from the start in their remaining fixtures or make changes quicker when things aren’t going their way.
He continued: “For the likes of Mikey Moore not to start, who has been such a prominent figure within this team now, not be starting, I don't think is ideal. He's (Rohl) understood that he has to make changes at half-time. And he's done that. He's got a reaction. But you shouldn't have to wait till you're 2-0 down to get a reaction from the team. Especially when you're in the fight to win the league. It just doesn't make sense. So, they have to look at themselves as well.”
The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly