Rampant Rangers are in business and not even a Strike It Lucky caper can deny the unmissable truth – Ibrox analysis

The expression on the sidelines doesn’t change much for Philippe Clement as he tends not to wear his emotions on his sleeve – or his face.

But behind the steely, cold glare, the Rangers manager must have felt a few after a chilly afternoon in West Lothian. Satisfaction will be the main one. The difference for Rangers going into this international break is night and day from the last one. When the domestic tools were put away last month, it had got so bad in the final days under Michael Beale there were fans just about writing off the season.

Then Clement arrived to get a reaction from the group and spark a total revival. The message is clear – Rangers are back in business. The Belgian may not have shown it but he would have been smiling inside, having negotiated one of the more notorious away days in the Premiership with three points and minimum fuss.

There would have been bemusement, too, with a hint of a hooked eyebrow given it was one of those VAR head-melt days that have become the norm. Rangers had two disallowed goals, a missed penalty that needed a second look and a spot-kick second that got one.

It took a bum-numbing 105 minutes to sort it all, which felt like a heck of a lot of hassle for a stroll. In amongst it all, the reinvention of Cyriel Dessers under new management continued with a crucial first-half strike, making it six goals for the season. But the VAR malarkey provided some head-scratching. Dessers had clearly pinched an inch to result in Connor Goldson being denied an opening goal.

The lively Ross McCausland’s spot-kick could probably have done with further inspection before James Tavernier blasted it wide. Then the youngster was denied the chance to double the lead when the techies got out the