Former Celtic star Kris Commons reckons Rangers fans will be sweating about their team's title hopes despite the Europa League heroics against Borussia Dortmund.
And he believes the clock is ticking for box office arrival Aaron Ramsey to make a telling impact in Gio van Bronckhorst 's strongest starting XI moving forward.
Rangers crashed back down to earth with a 1-1 draw with Dundee United, just three days after they stunned the Euro giants in their own stadium with a 4-2 win.
The dropped points in the City of Discovery leaves the Ibrox side three behind league leaders Celtic and winless in their last four Premiership away games.
And Commons believes Rangers' stumbling domestic form is a genuine cause for concern as their rivals have overcome a six-point deficit since the winter break.
Speaking in his Daily Mail column, he said: "Listen, no one can take anything away from Rangers for what they did against Borussia Dortmund. They were outstanding and fully deserved to win the match. It was the best result for any Scottish club in Europe since Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and co. were humbled at Celtic Park.
"But, domestically, I suspect their fans are now becoming concerned. Rangers are spilling points at an alarming rate.
"They went into the winter break top of the table and with a six-point lead over Celtic. Now they trail Ange Postecoglou's side by three points.
"That's a nine-point swing in the space of barely six weeks. Celtic have just gone through the gears, while Rangers have stumbled too often. It looked like they would maybe get away with it yesterday, only for Celtic to score a dramatic late winner against Dundee. This already feels like it has all the hallmarks of another post-winter collapse, as we saw during Steven Gerrard's first two seasons in charge.
"What happened against Dortmund was great and I wish them all the best for the second leg. It would be brilliant for Scottish football if they can knock out a genuine European heavyweight.
"But their chances of retaining the league title are beginning to go down the drain. It must be a concern for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
"Particularly in the second half, Rangers battered United. On another day, they could easily have scored three or four.
"But the reality is they didn't. We're at the business end of the season ifs, buts and maybes don't get you anywhere."
Commons believes there is also genuine concern surrounding Ramsey's role, after the Juventus loan star missed the draw against United with a small injury.
And the former Scotland international reckons £37m Manchester United star Amad Diallo may well be cast in the "wrong movie" after he passed up a golden chance on Sunday after coming off the bench.
He added: "Given the manner of the performance in Dortmund, and the form of Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo and John Lundstram, I felt Aaron Ramsey might not get into Rangers' strongest team. Glen Kamara seems to have lost his way slightly which might have opened up a door for Ramsey, but he wasn't in the squad at all yesterday due to injury.
"Time is running out for him to make any sort of appreciable impact at Ibrox. He was signed to make the difference in the title race, to help Rangers unlock stuffy defences with his passing and vision.
"Yesterday was exactly the kind of game where they'd have hoped he could help, but he wasn't fit enough to play any part.
"As for Amad Diallo, he already looks like he's in the wrong movie. Just because Manchester United spent £37million on him, that's no guarantee of success.
"He had a great chance late in the game yesterday and hit the post. He could have squared the ball to Fashion Sakala who would have had a tap-in. That can be the difference in tight, stuffy games.
"Van Bronckhorst knows Rangers can't afford many more days like this in the title race."
