UNDER-SIEGE Philippe Clement is teetering on the cliff edge and Brendan Rodgers can give the Ibrox boss the final push in the derby in Govan on Thursday.
That’s the verdict of former Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton as 2024 eases to a finale with the champions’ Premiership encounter against St Johnstone at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon.
At the same time as the Hoops take on the rock-bottom Perth club in the 3pm kick-off, Clement will lead his side, 12 points adrift at the summit, to Fir Park to face a Motherwell team clobbered 4-0 by Rodgers’ men on Boxing Day.
The focus will then turn to Ibrox as Clement attempts to outwit his elite opponent who has yet to taste defeat against Belgian after seven confrontations.
Sutton believes the Rangers gaffer is one defeat in this fixture from getting the heave – just as most of his predecessors have experienced after coming off second best in duels with the Irishman.
TIME’S UP…Philippe Clement shows the strain as his side collapse against St Mirren.
The one-time England international striker said: “Brendan Rodgers spoke a year ago about facing five Rangers managers and each time the Ibrox team were coming.
“By Friday, he might have to nudge that number up to six. Rodgers has wiped the floor with permanent Rangers managers during his two spells at Celtic.
“He’s thrust most of them out the door and Philippe Clement could easily be his next victim within the next few days.
“Rodgers has ruled the roost in Glasgow over a couple of terms with Mark Warburton first to be dismissed on the back of suffering to Rodgers. Pedro Caixinha and his dogs and caravans were next.
“Graeme Murty barely counts given that he was a caretaker. Steven Gerrard did at least actually win a game against the Celtic manager, but he didn’t win the battle and only got his title when Rodgers had departed for Leicester.
“Michael Beale was a fleeting opponent and now it’s Clement who is being battered.
BOXING DAY PARADISE…Daizen Maeda waves to the fans after scoring Celtic’s second goal in the 4-0 win over Motherwell.
“If he delivers another boot to the Belgian on Thursday, Rodgers will be onto his next challenger from across the city because, contract or no contract, I don’t see how Clement can survive yet another Old Firm reverse.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Listen, I understand that Clement was on the backfoot when he took the role and that Rodgers had a head start on him in terms of personnel.
“But you can’t go seven games against Celtic without a win. Especially, not when your team is chucking in performances like they did in Paisley on Thursday night.
“The events of the past fortnight are just typical of what’s happening with Clement. Rangers gave themselves yet another dose of hope at Hampden 13 days ago. Having completely messed up to fall 11 points behind the league, they came close to the League Cup trophy.
“Celtic then dropped points at Tannadice and had a virus sweeping through the camp. It’s down to nine points. Rangers are winning games and eyeing the chance to reduce the deficit to six at the very worst on Thursday on their own patch.
“Instead? They toss in a complete howler against St Mirren and it’s minus 12 again. Any goodwill Clement was starting to build up just zapped in 90 minutes.
“I don’t think it’s being hyper-critical to suggest Celtic have not been at their sizzling best in the past month or so.
“Rangers, on the other hand, had been getting petals thrown at them. And yet Rodgers’ team have still increased their lead at the top in that period.
PAISLEY PAIN FOR DANILO…the Ibrox striker displays his dismay as the scoreline spells it out.
“I didn’t get the sudden warmth towards the recent Rangers work. They were hardly spellbinding. They hadn’t cracked it.
“Celtic barely got out of third gear at Hampden. Rangers were at their full pelt. And still Rodgers won and Clement lost. That just sums it up.
“I’ll be honest, I’m not really seeing the Belgian as the long-term answer at Ibrox because I think he’s burned too many bridges with the fans.
“From a man who spoke a lot of sense in the beginning and appeared to have a calming influence and authoritative manner, he began to make crass and daft statements at the back end of last season when the title was slipping away and there’s been more this term.”
The media pundit added: “Rodgers hasn’t done him any favours. Celtic’s form in terms of results is absolutely superb. To be at the stage having dropped just four points all season is an outstanding effort.
“They usually find ways to win games when they are not at their best, they have the first trophy and they are on the brink of qualification to the next stage of the Champions League.
“That European run is crucial because, as I said after the first Old Firm game of this season when Celtic dismantled Rangers, simply beating the team from across the city was not going to be enough to satisfy all supporters.
“That’s because the Ibrox team looked so poor and, mini-revivals or not, the bottom line is that has not changed.
“Clement is just going around in circles. He’s not getting anywhere and I can’t see that changing in the medium or long-term future.
“That St Mirren defeat has, in my eyes, just edged the Belgian even closer to the cliff edge. Rodgers could be about to push him off into the abyss.
“Then he can begin planning for the next one who is supposedly coming for him.”
