Rangers boss Michael Beale reckons his side need to win EVERY game to overhaul champions Celtic.
The 42-year-old expects his team must be perfect over their final 22 games if they are to wrestle the title away from the champions who boast a nine-point lead and a superior goal difference of 17. Beale secured all three points in Thursday's topsy-turvy win over Hibs but a pivotal week awaits with away trips to Aberdeen and Ross County. And the former QPR boss - speaking ahead of Tuesday's clash in the Granite City - admits there is no margin for error if his team are to secure an improbable title win.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "My job, along with the rest of the staff and players is to build a strong Rangers to start playing well and exciting our fans. When you look at the league table with Celtic being nine points in front we would have to win every game - including the games against them until the end of the season and make up the goal difference. Let's not mess around, we know we have work to do. We don't have much room for error.
"But the most important thing is to start playing in the style we want to play. To get everyone fit and healthy, mentally and physically, and moving the club forward in a direction. I think we have a lot of good players, a lot of good things to look forward to. It's important to have a short and long-term focus.
"When I left this club a year ago under Steven, Ange was on the start of that journey and you can see the good work he has done. I's not to copy or mimic anything, I've got to come in and get that identity back into our team very quickly."
And Beale expects a tough week starting against Aberdeen as he aims for all three points. But Steven Gerrard's former lieutenant was quick to play down any expectations Dons boss Jim Goodwin would once again camp in days after his side's stodgy efforts were panned by pundits and punters alike.
He added: "Really tough games, home and away. Back then it was Derek McInnes then Stephen Glass in charge. I really enjoyed the games, there was a lot of passion, everything I thought was good about Scottish football. It's two new managers now, Jim's a guy I've got a lot of respect for. I thought he did ever such a good job at St Mirren to get this opportunity. They look a little bit different. They have got one or two players that I know in Ross McCrorie and Leighton Clarkston, certainly in Leighton's case a lovely technical player on loan from Liverpool. It will be a good game, an open game, second vs third, so there is everything to play for.
"I haven't lived this fixture this season. I came to watch the game at home and Aberdeen felt after the game they maybe got it wrong, I listened to Jim's comments after the game. Their home form has been fantastic bar the weekend. They were three or four minutes away from getting the result they wanted. I can't get in Jim's mind, I can focus on Rangers and we need to continue where we left off on Thursday. I thought our second half was heading in the right direction.
"There's different ways to win games and we need to find the answers, to be patient, to show quality in the final third. We have defend set plays and counter attacks well. Over the course of the season you try and develop your team to come up against all sorts of styles and find a way to win. At a club like Rangers that's the most important thing. Jim has to get the best out of his team and I have got to get the best out of mine so whatever they bring, hopefully we find the answers to the 'what if' questions."
