Philippe Clement spots Rangers moment of class giving him belief despite WORST performance since he joined

Philippe Clement branded their disaster in Dingwall the worst performance of his time at Rangers and warned his players they now need to react in the title run-in.

The Light Blues lost their first ever game to Ross County, as they crashed 3-2 to the strugglers in Dingwall. That costly slip-up leaves them four points behind Celtic, although they have their game in hand against Dundee on Wednesday. Clement stated: “I think it is already a big step forward that they (the players) went to the fans and showed their respect for everyone that travelled that far and it shows also how much respect there is from both sides and it is about standing up on Wednesday and taking three points.

"It is all about that. We have now been six months together. I have not seen a performance in these six months like I saw today so we have to take the good lessons out of that and react because they have shown enough times that they can do much better than they did today.”

The likelihood is that Rangers will need to win their last six games if they want to be crowned champions. Clement, though, is taking it one game at a time, starting with the Dundee game. The Belgian said: “I am not a mathematician so I do not know.

“We are going to go every game to win the game and we will see in the last two games what the ranking is. The same story as it was three days ago or one week ago. We need to be focused on us.”

Clement failed to shake Don Cowie’s hand at the final whistle, although he did wait to speak with the Ross County boss after his press duties. The Rangers boss explained: “I went inside directly but I will shake hands with him directly after, no problem.

“I wanted to prepare really well, what I had to say to the team. Nothing towards him, a lot of credit for him and what he has been doing here.”

Clement refused to blame last week’s Dundee fiasco but admitted it didn’t help their preparations. The match was called off for a second time on Wednesday. It has now been rearranged for next week and if Dens Park isn’t playable then it will be moved to a neutral venue, likely to be McDiarmid Park.

The Rangers manager stated: “Maybe it was part of what happened today but it is not an excuse. It’s been all week about anything except football in our club and around our club so maybe that influenced things, but it is not an excuse.

“We need to win games whatever the situation. Yes, that stays a strange situation (Dundee game venue) but it is not in my hands.

“I need to focus on the football and that is what we will do. Of course, because you do not even know what hotel you need to take. Okay, but these are decisions above my head.”