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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Stark Rangers form table pinpoints exactly where league title was lost to Celtic

On March 1, Rangers led the Scottish Premiership title race by two points. The next day a defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox threatened to hand the lead back to Celtic.

Fortunately, for Philippe Clement's men, Celtic would lose to Hearts leaving the title race finely posied with two points in it and both teams having played 29 matches.

That's when things swung in Celtic's direction. Brendan Rodgers' Celtic side were unmatched in the final 10 matches of the season dropping just five points. In the same number of matches, Rangers dropped 15.

Rangers lost three times in the final ten matches of the season - defeats to Motherwell, Ross County and Celtic. And they slipped up in draws with Dundee, Hearts, and Celtic.

The only wins for Clement's side in the business end of the season came against Hibs, St Mirren, Dundee and Kilmarnock.

Compare that with Celtic's record of eight wins, one draw and one loss in the final ten matches and the league title outcome is obvious.

Clement had clawed back a seven-point gap at the top of the table after being appointed as Rangers manager - but in the end Rangers finished eight adrift of Celtic.

Celtic's only loss in the closing stages of the season was against Hearts with the only other dropped points in the goalfest 3-3 draw against Rangers leaving little chance for Rangers to preserve or grow any points lead.

Rangers' loss of form in the final stages of the league campaign even meany Hearts and Kilmarnock picked up one more point in their final ten outings than the Ibrox side.

While Dundee only earned ten points, and St Mirren eight.

Rangers Scottish Premiership results since March 1

Rangers 1 Motherwell 2

Rangers 3 Hibs 1

Rangers 3 Celtic 3

Ross County 3 Rangers 2

Dundee 0 Rangers 0

St Mirren 1 Rangers 2

Rangers 4 Kilmarnock 1

Celtic 2 Rangers 1

Rangers 5 Dundee 2

Rangers 3 Hearts 3

Rangers record from March 1: P 10, W 4, D 4, L 3. 15 POINTS

Celtic record from March 1: P10, W 8, D 1, L 1. 25 POINTS.

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