WHEN Rangers were humiliated during the Old Firm at Celtic Park, there was evidently a fundamental problem with the team. 

They looked fragile and ill-prepared for the challenge they faced. Glen Kamara was hopelessly exposed as the sole number six in front of the backline, as were the full-backs. The approach was entirely wrong and played into Celtic’s hands. 

Up until that point, Rangers had a defined midfield: a six, an eight, and a 10. When it failed so badly against Celtic, Giovanni van Bronckhorst shied away from it and prioritised midfield stability.

Ryan Jack and John Lundstram provided that in spades. The pairing remains the strongest Rangers currently have at their disposal and it’s very likely they will line up together for the upcoming Old Firm.

They seem to bring the best out of each other and Rangers have benefited from it domestically and in Europe. 

At Dens Park on Sunday, van Bronckhorst tried to replicate a similar relationship by pairing James Sands and Lundstram. It lasted until half-time, with Rangers behind and bereft of an ability to create chances.

That was not helped by the addition of Scott Arfield in front of them. It was wooden, slow, and exactly what Dundee would want to see when facing Rangers. Defensively, it should be solid but that means little when the home team can break down the wings and create chances.

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That is exactly what happened, and the continuation of that midfield would likely have led to Rangers dropping points that ended the title race.

Instead, van Bronckhorst had to be reactive and it worked. The midfield had more fluidity and purpose in the second half and from the hour mark, it felt inevitable that the goals would come. Rangers went from only an Alfredo Morelos header and missed penalty in the first half, to an endless run of good chances in the second half. Some of that will have been due to Dundee tiring, but undoubtedly the change in style worked.

It took Rangers until the 86th minute to complete the comeback; the midfield setup was a poor decision that came very close to being extremely costly.  

Rangers’ zip in the league has been completely abandoned. There are so many games in various competitions that it is often difficult to separate them but the league form has been where all the problems exist. 

Since that Old Firm defeat, Rangers have played seven matches. After convincing victories against Hearts and Hibs, the last five league matches have resulted in two draws and three victories by one goal. Two of those victories required late winners. The best performances even came in the two matches Rangers dropped points - it is an understatement to say the five matches have been extremely tough to watch. 

It is nowhere near the form of prospective champions at such a pivotal time in the season. “The mark of champions” by grinding out a victory should only happen in occasional games - a pattern of results being ground out will inevitably lead to luck running out and points dropped.

When Rangers return from the international break, they need to do so on the front foot in the league. Old Firm games will take care of themselves in terms of the level of pragmatism required, but for the other five league games, van Bronckhorst should have attacking on his mind.

There are players and ways of playing that he can tap into. Kemar Roofe has proven pivotal in the last two league games when coming on; Fashion Sakala can continue to feel hard done by his lack of minutes; if Aaron Ramsey continues to gain fitness there is no excuse for him not being able to completely change the number eight role; a fit Steven Davis at the base of midfield could increase the tempo of those ahead of him.

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Rangers should leave the title race with no regrets. Dropped points have already occurred and can’t be undone, but to leave St Mirren in three weeks’ time with a draw because the midfield was too flat would be criminal. To drop points after the break because the team lacked spark and creativity would show little has changed since the early days of Steven Gerrard’s management.

Rangers no longer have a lead to protect, they are the chasers and it is their top spot to reclaim. If Rangers cannot dominate games and move away from scraping by, further dropped points become inevitable. Whether it ends in adulation or misery, it is the responsibility of van Bronckhorst and the players to ensure that it was all left on the pitch, and not to go out with a whimper as the team that was too scared at the prospect of losing.

The punchers’ chance will come from dominating games and utilising the attacking talents of this team - that’s when Rangers are at their best and that is what can bring another title home.