'Big step back' – Alex McLeish shares new title verdict after what he saw at Rangers

Alex McLeish has backed Celtic to “take the ascendancy” after Rangers missed the chance to gain ground on them against Kilmarnock.

Speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT (21 October, 11:48), McLeish reflected on the 1-0 loss at Rugby Park on Sunday (21 October) and its ramifications in the Scottish Premiership title race.

The previous day had seen Celtic and Aberdeen draw 2-2 at Parkhead, but Philippe Clement’s side failed to capitalise and remain six points away from the summit.

McLeish said: “It was a real slip-up at this particular stage of the season, so it’s a step back, a big step back, and Celtic will take the ascendancy now.”

Rangers need a miracle to turn title race around

Having managed the Gers to two league titles during his time in charge, McLeish knows all about what it takes to beat Celtic in the long haul, but that’s a nut Philippe Clement is yet to crack.

The Belgian is yet to achieve a victory over the Light Blues’ Old Firm rivals in five attempts since taking charge, with the only meeting so far this season ending in a 3-0 hammering at Parkhead.

Last season’s enthralling 3-3 draw only proved to be a false dawn as the two sides went toe-to-toe for the title, with Gers wilting late in the campaign and allowing Celtic to win the league by eight points.

Just eight matches into the current campaign, the gap already stands at six points, and off-the-pace 1-0 losses at Kilmarnock won’t do Clement any favours in his side’s bid to bridge that yawning chasm.

Clement needs to discover a formula to get his Gers winning games convincingly once again, and in their attempts to run Celtic down, the Belgian giving McLeish a call wouldn’t be the worst idea.

In other Rangers news, Billy Dodds singled out one Gers player for criticism after his display in the drab defeat at Rugby Park.

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