Scottish Premiership: What’s next in Europe’s best title race?

Where does this leave Rangers then?

Head coach Danny Ruhl has come under fire from Ibrox fans after his players failed to capitalize on complete dominance during their Old Firm Cup exit last weekend.

With the German side six points off the pace – a margin that could be extended by the time they start against a coachless St Mirren on Sunday (12:00) – there is increasing pressure and little room for error.

Craig McLeish, Jamie Langfield and Alan McManus will lead a caretaker side for the League Cup holders and Scottish Cup semi-finalists, who are competing for their place in the Championship, following the departure of Stephen Robinson to Aberdeen.

Paisley have won just one of their last 13 Premier League games – which came against leaders Hearts – but Rangers’ recent form isn’t brilliant either.

Ruhl and his players now face questions about mentality – an all-too-familiar story at Ibrox – despite the 36-year-old saying a month ago that he was relieved by the shift in his players’ mentality.

Defeat to Tynecastle in December was followed by a run of seven wins and eight draws in the league, but Rangers have since won one of their past four league games – a 4-2 win over Hearts.

This model extends to one win in five when including Sunday’s cup tie. In fact, they have only won three out of nine in all competitions.

If this worrying decline is not addressed urgently, it will prove to be the end of Rangers’ title hopes and will increase the pressure on Ruhl from the demanding support.