Celtic triumph makes no difference to Rangers campaign gone wrong as Clement heightens festering frustration – Keith Jackson

It won’t make the slightest difference in the final analysis of another campaign gone wrong for Rangers.

In fact, it might just add another layer of festering frustration over the acts of self-destruction carried out by Philippe Clement and his data-crunching department during the festive period. Had Clement not allowed a posse of Poindexters to make his big decisions for him at St Mirren and Motherwell he’d be smack bang in the middle of a genuine title race heading into the new year, rather than stranded 11 points off the pace at the top.

But even so, what went on at Ibrox yesterday – as Rangers ran riot against their old neighbours – at least eased some of the pain these supporters have been suffering ever since the scientists experimented with their top-flight title chances, with disastrous results. Of course, hardly any of them could have expected such an emphatic, impressive routing of the rivals. Some may even have been hoping this would be the day that Clement’s future was decided for him.

They might not know whether to laugh or cry now that the manager has survived and got past the point of maximum danger. But the manner in which Rangers went about their business yesterday might offer up some consolation as well as the thought that Clement might still be capable of delivering something tangible with this team.

And yet, amid all of this, some lame-brains in a corner of the ground managed to spoil it all by pelting Arne Engles with coins and leaving Celtic’s sub sparked out on the sidelines in the dying minutes to ensure that a period of navel-gazing will also now be required by those in charge of their club.

It’s just another issue new CEO Patrick Stewart could do without but must now tackle – even if