Every Rangers player put on trial as Hotline rages at 4 'disgraceful' performers

Rangers fans are still raging over their side’s ropey defeat to Ross County ahead of Wednesday's rearranged trip to face Dundee.

Skipper James Tavernier, John Lundstram, Cyriel Dessers and Connor Goldson were all in the Hotline firing line for a performance as dodgy as the Dens Park pitch. Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “If Celtic do win the league then Rangers fans will look back at the disgraceful performance from John Lundstram and James Tavernier. How many times have these Rangers players let down our fans, the club and manager? I’m sick of hearing Tavernier’s excuses. I hope the directors have money to replace these proven losers.”

Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, added: “A message to John Lundstram: If you're trying to play the Connor Goldson trick to hold Rangers to ransom it won't work. All the Rangers players are on trial and Clement and the fans only want players who play for the jersey and not players who put in an inept performance like in Dingwall.”

Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, said: “When is Clement going to realise that Cyriel Dessers is a duffer? The guy is never a football player let alone a centre forward? Clement is solely responsible for selecting the team who plays yet he leaves a far superior and a more clinical finisher either not included in squad or sitting on the bench, namely Kemar Roofe. And when you do play Roofe it's because Rangers are either drawing or losing and he only gets a few minutes yet you expect him to be match sharp and win games?”

And Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “If Rangers do miss out on winning the league, it will be due to two big failures - no quality number nine and a poor defence with James Tavernier and Connor Goldson. As a full back Tavernier can't defend for toffee, opponents with a bit of pace leave him dead in the water, but as a goal scorer he certainly excels. He probably would make a half decent number nine and might be a improvement on the wasteful Cyriel Dessers!”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Old Firm divide, Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “Celtic did their best to make the league a contest by losing and drawing games with inept performances. But clearly they have fought their way back to the top and now have influential players back - great stuff.”

However, John Bruce emailed in as a voice of reason. He said: “Philippe Clement is sure to have learned a new word since his arrival in Scotland - fickle. Both sets of Old Firm fans are capable of going from extreme highs to devastating lows. And as bad as Rangers' performance and defeat to Ross County was, the title has not been decided early. This is not 2020 so there is still everything to play for. Right 'til the end.”

Donald Dundas took the plunge into the diving storm when he emailed: “Surprise Surprise. One week it's headlines regarding Fabio Silva diving in and Old Firm game. On Tuesday Reo Hatate gets slated by Des Roache as a cheat. Surprised the usual suspects who contacted Hotline in their droves regarding Silva missed this one? Not really.”

Dipping into the bottom half of the table and disgruntled Aberdeen fan Hugh McKirdy emailed: “Aberdeen had the chance against Livingston and Dundee to pull clear of the play-off spot and couldn't do it. With the Ross County result against Rangers pulling them back into it they probably deserve to go down! We are a shambles.”

Finally, a fitting tribute to a Scottish boxing great following the tragic death of Willie Limond this week. James Logan, Glasgow, said: “Terrible news about Willie Limond, who came from Glasgow’s east end to win numerous titles and fight some of the greatest boxers on the planet. Highly respected by everyone he met. Deepest condolences to his family. RIP.”