Bye bye Saturday hi, hi, hi Beautiful Sunday – Disappointed Tavernier, clueless Clement

Bye bye Saturday, hi hi hi Beautiful Sunday…

Aberdeen celebrate
Celtic v Aberdeen – Graeme Shinnie celebrates scoring their second goal of the game with team-mates in front of their during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday October 19, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

The Celtic support left Paradise on Saturday afternoon feeling a little down as despite still being top of the league, the team let themselves down by throwing away two valuable points against a dogged Aberdeen side in a game we should have won comfortably.

In the cold light of day it still hurt

As Saturday turned into Sunday and in the cold light of day it still hurt, but not as much as we knew that we were still in the driving seat where the title is concerned. It was a good result for Aberdeen, but it was as equally as good for our rivals over at Ibrox as it gave them a chance to close that gap at the top to just three points. The Ibrox supporters were revelling in our misfortune and spent Saturday evening in a joyous mood as if they’d had some joy over at neteller casinos UK, rather than just watched both their title rivals move another point ahead of them.

Graeme Shinnie scores
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie scores to tie the game 2-2, beating Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel with a deflected goal off Auston Trusty of Celtic. Celtic v Aberdeen, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 19 October 2024 Photo StuartWallace/ Shutterstock

theRangers are coming…(naw they irnae)

Both theRangers players and supporters headed to Kilmarnock knowing a win would put them back contention for the title, and the scene was set for boasts of how ‘they are back’ and similar statements of intent. Football though can be a funny game and true to form the Ibrox side failed the acid test once again as they lost out to Kilmarnock, in turn blowing the chance to move closer to Celtic and Aberdeen at the top.

theRangers fans revolt
Kilmarnock v theRangers – theRangers fans with protest banners during the Scottish Premiership match at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park, Kilmarnock onSunday October 20, 2024. Photo Steve Welsh

Beautiful Sunday

What was seen as two points dropped on Saturday ended up a point gained on our Glasgow rivals come Sunday afternoon. It sure was a Beautiful Sunday once again, and the fall-out was brilliant to observe as they finally have lost faith in Philippe Clement as their manager.

Philippe Clement at Rugby Park
Kilmarnock v Rangers – theRangers manager Philippe Clement during the Scottish Premiership match at Rugby Park on Sunday October 20, 2024. Photo Steve Welsh

Clement had previous stated, after the 3-0 defeat to Celtic at the start of September, that his side would be much better come October, well theRangers support certainly have seen no evidence that there has been any improvement, with many saying that they have actually got worse.

Calling for Clement’s head

Many are calling for Clement’s head and remember they actually gave the Belgian a contract extension at the start of the season, so it would be a costly move to send him packing at this stage, when the financial situation at Ibrox is challenging.

Dejected theRangers players walk off
Dejected theRangers players walk off the pitch after the final whistle. Full-time score Kilmarnock 1 theRangers 0. Kilmarnock v theRangers, Scottish Premiership, Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, 20 October 2024. Photo: Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

The six matches that Clement can’t lose 

Assuming Clement survives the fall-out of the loss at Kilmarnock on Sunday, he might have to win his next six games to keep himself in a job. Let’s have a look at who theRangers have to play in these six matches.

  1. FCSB (Steaua București) at Ibrox on Thursday night (24 October) in the Europa League.  Clement and his players will face the support for the first time since their Rugby Park defeat, the crowd isn’t expected to be anywhere near capacity and after losing at home to Lyon on match day two, theRangers need to get points on the board from their second consecutive home match in UEFA’s second tier tournament.
  2. St Mirren are at Ibrox on Sunday 27 October, the day after Aberdeen play Dundee United at Pittodrie. If the Dons win that one then theRangers will kick-off NINE points behind Aberdeen, who they have to catch if they want to be involved in the Champions League next season. The crowd will be bigger and patience will be in short supply in the stands.
  3. Then it’s a midweek trip to the North-East for theRangers to take on high flying Aberdeen at Pittodrie. on 30 October. This is a must win match for Philippe Clement who has just ‘celebrated’ a year in charge of the latest Ibrox club. Meanwhile Swedish coach Jimmy Thelin has made a huge impact in just three months in charge of Aberdeen. After getting a point at Celtic Park, Thelin will be looking to maximise home advantage with the Aberdeen support eager to get the victory. It’s as tough as it will get for the travelling support who were spared the opportunity to attend their 3-0 mauling at Celtic Park in September.
  4. Next up is the League Cup semi-final against Motherwell at Hampden Park on Sunday 3 November. They’ll know that if they can get past the Fir Park side, they will face Celtic or Aberdeen in the final, this two play the day before. Motherwell will sense this as their own big chance and will certainly give theRangers a tough match.
  5. When is it going to get any easier for Philippe Clement if he’s still around at this point?  It’s 7 November and theRangers are in Greece to take on Olympiacos in the Europa League, match-day four.
  6. It’s back to Ibrox on Sunday 10 November.  Hearts are the visitors in the Scottish Premiership. The Edinburgh side got a draw against theRangers in the opening day of the season before losing to just about everyone else ever since. That cost Steven Naismith his job – after he also got a contract extension in the summer.  Things could turn ugly if this is the day Hearts decide to show up.
Disappointed, dejected James Tavernier
Disappointed, dejected theRangers captain James Tavernier walks off the pitch after the final whistle. Full-time score Kilmarnock 1 theRangers 0. Kilmarnock v theRangers, Scottish Premiership, Rugby Park, Kilmarnock on 20 October 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

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