Rangers 1-1 Dundee United: The Nightmare before Christmas

Morning everyone, where to begin after that ludicrous display yesterday? I'll start with the first half, it was exactly what we've become used to. We started slowly, it looked scrappy at times. There was a real struggle to break down the Dundee United shape, I thought in terms of ball progression it seemed like Barron and Raskin weren't sure where to be. We've seen it many times before, the early frustration as one of the back 2 or the midfield duo picks up the ball around halfway, looks forward, and see's no real options. We saw Souttar drive forward before turning and passing it back, Raskin and Barron turning with the ball and then having to play it sideways, and Propper going long, all the time.

It didn't take long for the home crowd to become really frustrated with what they were seeing. Dessers was anonymous again, I can't actually remember him touching the ball in the first 30 minutes. The only ones worthy of any praise in that first half were the fullbacks. I thought Sterling had no issues 1 v 1 with Middleton (although he's always been quite one dimensional as a winger). And on the other side Jefte realised early on that in wide positions Dundee United were marking man to man, so he took his man on at every opportunity to help drive us forward. Finding any praise for individuals always feels pointless, as it feels like I'm praising their performance in spite of the team and set up, not because of it.

But obviously the real key moment in the first half was when we fell behind. There wasn't much in the way of surprise when it happened, we left a Dundee United player in space around 30 yards out, he played a reasonable cross into the box, Darby was free and seemed to shoulder it in past a hapless Jack Butland. If the atmosphere in the ground was frustrated before this, it was certifiably toxic when we fell behind. We huffed and puffed with a bit more intensity after the goal went in, but similarly struggled to create any real opportunities. Propper headed home from a Barron cross but the goal was chalked off after it was clear Barron controlled the ball with his arm.

So the team was booed off at half time again. A response was needed, Danilo and Hagi were introduced for Dessers and Diomande. We certainly had a bit more zip about us in the second half, but I don't think there was a real change in tactical approach. It seemed like Hagi and Bajrami just took on the remit of trying to create from anywhere on the field. Dundee United helped us out by immediately dropping into their own box in the second half. We did do well to box them in, but it was definitely more a symptom of the state of the game rather than our own efficiency.

It was nice to see Hagi moving around the park to combine with different players, he had a good connection with Cerny and Bajrami and if we can take anything from the embers of this season, it's that Hagi may have something to offer us on the pitch.

We were creating chances sporadically, but there was nothing assured about our approach. At times we resorted to just chucking the ball into the box. The equaliser came from one of our very rare footballing moves, Cerny played the ball into the Danilo and ran beyond, Danilo played a great pass through the defenders legs with Cerny finishing comfortably.

I did think that with the pattern of play that we might find a winner, but it didn't take long for us to be back to running out of ideas creatively. Ridvan had come on for Jefte following the goal, just a bizarre move, Ridvan hasn't played since Kyiv at home, and he looked rusty, how could that be the right move? Igamane was introduced outwide for Bajrami but I think he struggled to get into the game, and resorted to putting in terrible crosses from the left.

So the final whistle blew and the boos rung down again from the stands. We've been here before with this manager. Clement didn't have an answer post-match, he didn't have an answer during the game, and he hasn't had an answer all season. I've already said after Kilmarnock that Clement won't be our manager by the end of the season, his position already feels untenable but I don't expect we will see many supporters at the next home game. Fans vote with their wallets and once those at the club see the half empty stands surely Clement won't last much longer.

It's hard to feel any sympathy for those involved, Clement has been stubborn to the extreme, the Board have been scared of making a decision and the players have understandably struggled given the uncertainty around the club.

Hopefully this unhappy marriage won't last much longer, as for what might happen afterwards we will need to wait and see. Have a good Sunday everyone.