If all that results from yet another thumping from Rangers is that we fall from first to second in the table then we can’t complain too much. The points amassed from the early games and the remarkable win by St Johnstone at Parkhead keep us riding high in the table and with a game against Dunfermline before the international break we should be looking to stay in that elevated position well into September.
But the fact is that we suffered another heavy defeat against Rangers. The unpleasant statistics don’t bear repeating and we have to ask if there is some sort of mental block that descends on the home dressing room when Rangers occupy the room across the corridor. Players come and go as do managers but the predictability of the outcome remains the same.
We can consider ourselves unlucky to be two down at the break but the reality was that the first goal took whatever wind we had out of our sails. Thereafter the only thrill came when Murphy got the ball beyond McGregor. A brief flicker of hope was soon extinguished. Yet again the need for a few fresh faces was obvious as McCall felt that our cause would not have been improved by a substitution. We must be setting some kind of record for not troubling the fourth official.
The manager was honest enough in his post match assessment but it gave little comfort to the fans who had persuaded themselves that this was our best opportunity to end the run of misery.
At least we’ll have a chance to look forward as the League Cup tie with Clyde will provide a midweek distraction before Saturday’s SPL encounter in Dunfermline. A couple of wins would bring a happy end to August.