PHILIPPE CLEMENT looked on in utter dismay as Rangers nosedived to a 2-1 defeat against St Mirren in Paisley tonight.
The Ibrox side are now a massive TWELVE points behind champions Celtic at the Premiership pinnacle ahead on the New Year fixture at Ibrox a week today.
Brendan Rodger’s side made no mistake earlier in the day as they overwhelmed Motherwell 4-0 at Parkhead with goals from Arne Engels (pen), Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate.
That left the Govan club the opportunity to respond against Stephen Robinson’s team at the SIMSA stadium to give themselves a forlorn chance to keeping in touch with the Hoops.
However, they struggled to cope with the basic tactics of their opponents who bombarded their suspect central defence with long, high balls.
PICK IT OUT…Caolan Boyd-Munce fires in a left-foot drive for the winner in Paisley.
Jack Butland escaped a red card when he flattened Greg Kiltie in the box on the half-hour mark as the home side were awarded an undisputed penalty-kick.
Oison Smyth made a perfect job of his kick as he sent the keeper the wrong way to tuck the ball in the corner.
Clement was smiling, though, in the 61st minute when Brazilian frontman Danilo thumped in the leveller after a penalty-box melee.
However, any thoughts of adding to the point were dynamited when Caolan Boyd-Munce rifled in the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.
There could be no complaints as Clement and Co reflect on the carnage of a league season – even before the turn of the year.
They have now lost to Celtic, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and St Mirren as they look to battle the Dons for second place.
FOURMIDABLE CHAMPS BACK ON TARGET
