Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Rangers v Heart of Midlothian - Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - October 29, 2023 Rangers manager Philippe Clement reacts Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
From the moment that Celtic dropped two points at Aberdeen media organisations had drawn a huge loveheart around February 14.
Ross County at home and they could celebrate the coronation of King Clement, mission accomplished with Celtic finally removed from top of the SPFL Premiership table.
For extra excitement the hoops almost stumbled last Wednesday away to Hibs, with Ross County losing 5-0 at Motherwell their visit to Ibrox was scripted to be happy and glorious. Derek Adams even walked away from the Dingwall side in fear of the Phil Factor.
The stories and features were all drafted, just ready for Publication around 9.30pm on Wednesday, feeding their audience sickened by five Celtic trebles in eight seasons that had killed off a handful of Ibrox messiahs.
? FT: Rangers 3-1 Ross County
Philippe Clement’s side pull level on points with Celtic but remain in second place in the Premiership after victory at Ibrox!
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) February 14, 2024
Rangers moved level on points with Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic in a chaotic win over Ross County but failed to finish enough of their countless 23 shots on target to move top of the table.#BBCFootball
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) February 14, 2024
An early goal from Cyriel Dessers switched on the party tunes from Pacific Quay to Clydebank, when Simon Murray equalised referee Alan Muir obliged with seven minutes stoppage time with Dessers scoring again.
With forty five minutes to find two goals the stage was set for a second half celebration that would last through until the end of the season, the questions all in place for Brendan Rodgers at his pre-match conference for the match with Kilmarnock.
Incredibly the next 45 minutes passed without a goal, the cheeky visitors even threatened an equaliser but Muir did his bit with eight minutes of added time for no obvious reason.
John Souttar salvaged a goal in the third added minute but that was that, no more and a familiar look at the top of the Premiership table.
Celtic remain on top, they have a game on Saturday where they could add points to their lead and nudge some pressure onto King Clement as he prepares for St Johnstone away where Craig Levein is desperate for every point possible.
BBC Scotland are this morning offering grief counselling to their Sports Department with big Kenny Macintyre reported to be in an especially distressed state as he left Ibrox last night.
February 14 did mark a significant landmark in Scottish football history but it went unreported by the state broadcaster and other mainstream outlets (administration).
Still simply 2nd best pic.twitter.com/iI6jMP6pes
— OverandOver… (@keeptryinglads) February 14, 2024
That’s their Celebrations Cancelled?? https://t.co/Bfcgf5KjGJ pic.twitter.com/VNqJGKtoIG
— D Mcguire (@DMcGCfc1888) February 14, 2024
Michael Beale first 15 Rangers league games 43 points.
Philippe Clement first 15 Rangers league games 40 points.
You do the math on the latest genius. pic.twitter.com/DHTNtfOfil
— Paul Henderson (@Hoopforlife1967) February 14, 2024
This is merely a bump on the road to an unprecedented quadruple winning season under the greatest manager in the history of association football. Or something like that. When thd brown stuff hits the fan, as it does in all managerial careers, they’ll really turn on the mighty Phil.
And not a question about where all the injury time came from. Especially the first half
The press were all getting ready to blow their loads Joe , 3-0 or more was a foregone conclusion
Now their consoling themselves with the 50 or f*ck knows how many shots they had
If that was us that failed to go top they’d be screaming it was a psychological blow and going to town on us for missing all those chances to score more
It Musta been lyk the 12th July down Anderson Quay way last nite way all the burning o them headlines,,,, as for injury tym speaks volumes,,
They are just like a three-legged man.
Every time they bend over, they kick themselves up the backside!
Great article Hugh! Laughed out loud at the ‚grief counselling‘
Might even listen to Clyde Superscoreboard if I knew that they will be devastated…
Oh – If only the league finished last night…
That said there would’ve been 28 minutes of injury time if that’s what it took them to score in these circumstances !