Mark Hateley watched Rangers struggle to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen from a pal’s sponsored box on Saturday.
In truth, he and a host of other Ibrox legends should have been on the pitch at half-time as the club celebrated their 150th anniversary.
From the former Gers hero’s point of view, though, the most important aspect of the afternoon was Kemar Roofe ’s 81st-minute winner, which kept his side in the title race.
The former England striker isn’t even too concerned that the champions have struggled in the last two games against St Johnstone and the Dons. They’ve won both 1-0 and, for him, that’s the be-all and end-all as they chase Celtic.
Hateley had previously watched Gers play really well against Dundee United and Motherwell yet spill four points, so he knows that at this stage it’s all about the result.
“I have got to say, I am not a (Marcelo) Bielsa man, I am not performance over points,” he said. “I take points over performance every day of the week at this stage in the season.
“If you are playing rotten, get the points. That is better than playing well and not getting the points. It is simple, straightforward.
“At this stage in the season, you dig deep. But we can dig deep because we have a big squad.
“You saw that at the weekend when Roofe came on and did what he does. He gets his goal, showed good movement, was very intelligent. We have got all that in reserve.”
Hateley has been massively impressed by Alfredo Morelos’ all-round game this season but on the day it was Roofe – barely used under Gio van Bronckhorst – who bounced off the bench to keep alive his team’s hopes of retaining the title.
“I don’t know what is going on up at the training ground and whether he is carrying an injury,” he said, speaking of Roofe’s lack of game time.
“Just like I don’t know what is happening with Steven Davis. I really can’t comment on that.
“Picking up on the St Johnstone game, he didn’t make any subs. That sends a message to me that he might have a trust issue with a lot of the players who are in and around the starting XI.
“You need to keep your goalscorers fit for the run-in. If you go back to the Dortmund game, that was the best I have ever seen Alfredo. I have been a big critic of him in the past but he was phenomenal.
“Every part of his game was immense. I just thought, ‘Wow’. His touch is very good now and he is weighing up situations a lot quicker than he used to.
“I am pleased for him. I just hope we can hold on to him and the likes of Calvin Bassey after they do so well in Europe.”
Rangers are back in Euro action against Red Star Belgrade on Thursday before heading to Dens Park for a Scottish Cup quarter-final three days later.
And Hateley believes Aaron Ramsey, who arrived to such fanfare but has barely kicked a ball, can still play a massive role.
He added: “Aaron is a quality player. Steven Gerrard once said he’s probably the best midfield player he’d ever faced and that’s coming from one of the very, very best.
“But to be showing that ability, you have to keep yourself fit and that was his problem at Juventus as well.
“He is a talent, a big-game player, and every game is a big game when you are at Rangers. He has all the experience and talent. You’d like to be able to tap into it.
“But if he’s not fit enough, it’s hard to bring that into the collective right now and make use of that. If he breaks down again, the sports scientists will be saying he can’t play. Ramsey might be saying he can play but he doesn’t dictate that.
“Yet, if they get him fit and strong and mentally ready, he is a talent. The boy has great ability, it’s just about getting him out there. He could be training every day but just falling short of some levels. They’ll be looking at all the data.”
With that in mind, he expects the Rangers boss to play his strongest team against Red Star and Dundee.
Hateley said: “One hundred per cent, it is far too long since Rangers won a cup. It has been a long while and I’d like to believe the players are thinking the same.”
● Hateley and Jim Duffy were promoting exclusively live Premier Sports coverage of Dundee v Rangers this Sunday from 3.30pm. Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player from £12.99 per month and on Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.
