It wasn’t vintage Rangers, but it was exactly what we needed. To be fair, grinding out three points at the business end of the season is priceless. Style can wait; the title race doesn’t care for pretty football, just for wins.

A workmanlike win

Yesterday wasn’t the finest hour for anyone at Ibrox, but it was a job well done. We didn’t click in the final third, our rhythm was off and there were moments when the composure looked thin. Still, you can see why that result matters. When the pressure piles up, a solid, pragmatic performance that delivers three points is worth its weight in gold.

There’s something satisfying about coming away with the points even when the football ain’t flowing. It steadies the nerves, keeps momentum ticking and forces the chasing pack to worry. At this stage of the campaign you take the points however they come.

Six cup finals to go

Call them cup finals if you like — that phrase seems to fit. Every game feels like one now. The league isn’t decided yet, and the margin for error is tiny. So while I’d rather we dazzled, the truth is that grit and knowing how to win under pressure are just as important.

We’ll need composure, a bit of luck, and the squad to keep its head. If Danny keeps the group focused and everyone chips in, those six matches could define a season. Fans can moan about the performance, and rightly so at times, but moan after we’ve got the medals in the cabinet.

What’s happening at Anfield?

I watched the City v Liverpool tie before the match and it felt telling. City looked sharp, and it’s no surprise people are asking questions about Liverpool’s set-up. I’m with you in thinking it’s now a matter of when, not if, changes come at Anfield. Xabi Alonso’s name gets thrown about a lot — and you can see why, given his stock — but whatever happens, it won’t be simple for them.

All in all, celebrate the three points today. We’ll worry about fine margins and style another time. Right now, it’s about winning the next one, and the next — six finals to go, remember that.

Written by Sir Walter Smith OBE: 3 June 2026

Tags: match-review