AS the minutes ticked on at Ibrox on Saturday, Rangers’ chances of Premiership success seemingly slipped away from them.

It is, of course, not over until it is over. The Ibrox crowd knows that only too well after seeing a handful of titles won and lost on the final day of campaign in the not so distant past.

But there was a feeling of despondency in the air at the full-time whistle as St Johnstone earned a point and denied Steven Gerrard’s side two that would have made all the difference at the top of the table. Just 24 hours later, the cost of that result was laid bare as Celtic beat Kilmarnock to move eight clear.

It was a game that Rangers had to win, one that they should have. Ultimately, it was one that they didn’t, though.

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For Ibrox legend Ian Durrant, it is a blow from which Gerrard’s title ambitions may not be able to recover.

“I would never say it’s over but when I heard Steven Gerrard’s comments post-match comments I think he was looking for a reaction,” Durrant said. “Eight points is a big gap to bridge and if we’re brutally honest then Rangers have dropped too many points at home.

“And if Rangers have any aspirations of trying to catch Celtic then they need to go put a run together and hope there’s twists and turns.

“You’re looking at Celtic having to probably lose four games - with two Old Firm fixtures to come - and they haven’t done that yet.

“When you’re playing a day ahead of your nearest rivals, who have a tricky fixture, then you’ve got to crank up the pressure on them. Rangers would have settled for a 1-0 win against St Johnstone but Celtic know how to win games even if it took until injury time.

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“I only know Steven Gerrard to say hello to and he’ll be disappointed with the points they’ve dropped at home. The Rangers nine-in-a-row teams had a knack of knowing how to win a games and they signed Jermain Defoe and Steve Davis and, along with Kyle Lafferty, they are guys who would be expected to in you games.

“I know they were missing Alfredo Morelos and I’m not having a go at the others or disrespecting St Johnstone but that’s the type of game they need to win.”

If the final weeks of the season now go as expected and Celtic clinch an eighth successive Premiership title, Rangers will look back with more than a sense of frustration.

The euphoria of reaching the Europa League group stages wasn’t capitalised on domestically, while the Old Firm win in December raised the bar to a level that has not been hit since the winter break.

Comparisons have been made to Rangers’ points tally in previous seasons and under previous managers but Durrant reckons there are more reasons to be optimistic with Gerrard at the Ibrox helm as attentions turn to the Scottish Cup replay with Kilmarnock tomorrow night.

“There have been missed opportunities,” he said. “They will analyse everything and for me they have dropped points at certain times when they should have capitalised.

“They may be only three points better off but I think there has been a big improvement when you consider the European run.

“They got to the League Cup semi too although that was a disappointment as Aberdeen got a chance and took it.

“It’s still a work in progress but you can see where they were and where Steven Gerrard has got them to now.

“He’s a young manager who wants success. You can see it in his press conferences – he’s passionate.

“Success is craved at Rangers – and Celtic – and it’s expected.

“It must be hard for him trying to appease 50,000 fans, especially when you get a result like last Saturday, but it will come for him.

“There has been a dominant Celtic side so it was always going to be hard for him but he has a good backroom team to help him.

“He’s just got to bridge that gap and do the best they can.

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“Of course, he laid down a marker in the last Old Firm game but they fell far below that standard last Saturday. His comments were strong after the St Johnstone game but he’s trying to get a reaction from the players.

“He was talking about consistency and capitalising on chances and no disrespect to Tommy Wright, but Rangers should be beating St Johnstone in this situation

“Gerrard knows they have a major game on Wednesday – and then another tough one next Sunday on the Astroturf at Hamilton.”

At the start of the season, few would have expected Rangers to mount a serious challenge for the title that Celtic have eased to in recent years but history is now in the sights of Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers.

Durrant was part of the Gers side that clinched nine-in-a-row under the guidance of Walter Smith in the 90s.

Now the onus is on Gerrard to prevent Celtic matching, and potentially surpassing, that achievement.

Durrant said: “I think Steven Gerrard has the potential to win the league with Rangers, of course he has. But that comes with a level of investment and getting the right players that can play for Rangers.

“You need players who can play in the Old Firm environment where they are expected to win.

“Steven Gerrard will find out more about his players in the next couple of months where they need to get a Cup run and try to get a result at Parkhead to keep things alive.

“He will know what he needs to bring in because in Glasgow you have to learn quick. I’m sure they’re already working on recruitment for next year. But if it does go to eight, they are going to need players that can carry badge because it’s going to be a hell of a season.”

*Ian Durrant will help manage Rangers Legends against a Liverpool Legends and English Premier League Select at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road on Saturday, March 22. Funds raised will go to Kilbride Hospice, The Emmie Smillie Charity Foundation and Hillsborough & Ibrox Disaster Memorial Fund. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.co.uk.