What the number 55 means to Rangers now as symbol of glory fills them with DREAD at undeniable Celtic reality

The number 55 used to be looked upon with fondness around Ibrox. Not so much these days.

Mostly because it’s a bitter reminder of the colossal missed opportunity to reset Rangers as a competitive force after their 2021 league triumph. But increasingly, mere mention of those two digits is serving up another emotion – dread. They’ve tried not to think about it, to force it from their thoughts and into the darkest recesses of their minds. But try as they might, the Light Blue legions simply can’t ignore the reality it’s Celtic who are now the team going for 55, speeding towards equalling Gers’ cherished title benchmark at the end of this season.

Little wonder you seldom hear 55 muttered much at all any more by Rangers fans. Once upon a time it was plastered everywhere you looked around the stadium, from trinkets in the club shop to banners sweeping the stands. Now the supporters can barely bring themselves to say the words.

They might try to avoid it but still find themselves stumbling into ominous reminders. Take for example, the delayed kick-off time for Saturday’s snow-hit clash with Dundee United. What was originally forecast as a three-quarter of an hour hold-up, after Jim Goodwin’s side were snared up in a motorway logjam, eventually rumbled on a little longer – with the action finally getting underway at 3.55pm.

Rangers had been made to wait – but then failed to mount the late show that would have kept their already sizeable Premiership deficit as it was before kick-off. Now they trail Celtic by a mammoth 11 points and face the prospect of another proud record being matched by their rampant rivals.

It was hardly a surprise to see Rangers struggle to see off a United side that had spent four-and-a-half hours trapped