Yep, we were neck-and-neck with Septic and won the title by virtue of being one goal better off in the goal-difference figures. So while it is great to see the Gers currently sitting four points clear at the top of the SPL table, on the evidence of recent performances, we're going to need that cushion and I can't help thinking that, with St.Mirren down to ten men at Ibrox recently, a great chance to make a significant impact on our goal-difference was wasted.
Lets not kid ourselves, against even modestly better opposition than Gretna and Caley Thistle, those precious four points would have been squandered in the course of just five days in the middle of last month. Yes, winning ugly is fine on occasions but it can't be the norm. We've got to get our act together quickly, or else we will be left with the nightmare scenario of letting the Scum Of off the hook.
For all the talk of a winter break, the enforced lay-off certainly did Rangers no favours. In the league game at Easter Road we looked to be right on top of our game, although a bit more ruthlessness in front of goal would not have gone amiss, and we were all looking forward to sorting out the hooped horrors on January 2. But of course, our nearest and dearest copped out of that one.
Justification (or lack of it) for cancellation of the match has been well covered on the FF Messageboard over the past month. But there is no truth to the rumour that Ra Sellick wanted to call off their recent home game with Killie as a mark of respect for Vera Duckworth - that's a pyoor Masonic lie, so it is, man! Mind you, I'm told the Jungle Bhoys were contemplating unfurling a sympathetic banner...but none of them knew how to spell Vera!!! And I got a bit suspicious when their visit to Motherwell was called off in the immediate aftermath of Jeremy Beadle's death.
I digress. The fixture schedule for January and February, while certainly busy enough, is relatively kind to Rangers. With the possible exception of our trip to Tynecastle on February 27, (who knows what Hearts team will turn up?), maximum points is a perfectly reasonable target. All of which would do the confidence factor no harm at all for the much-delayed visit to the Piggery, whenever FC Semtex come out of hiding.
I'm hoping it is no more than a combination of loss of momentum, some dodgy pitches, maybe a wee dip in form, which has seen us make hard work of recent fixtures. A quick return to the impressive stuff we saw when we won at Easter Road is a must, it is time for every player in the squad to stand up and be counted...and start battering in the goals.