Clement's desperate fight for Rangers hearts and minds meets Rodgers' Old Firm love affair

Rangers supporters will historically turn a blind eye to style when results are good. Philippe Clement’s utterly unreliable team are not delivering on either front as they face their cross-town rivals with the gulf in class widening further

BLACK AND BLUE: Rangers manager Philippe Clement (left) consoles Ridvan Yilmaz after he missed a penalty in a shoot out defeat to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup Final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Pic: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Philippe Clement can only hope the law of averages is due to swing in his favour. If not, the sense of an ­elongated, unsatisfactory conclusion to his spell as the manager of Rangers will have intensified by Thursday evening.

Brendan Rodgers has tasted defeat in only one of 20 Old Firm matches. Celtic’s manager has presided over 16 wins in that run. Clement would be forgiven trepidation, then, as Rangers prepare to host their oldest foes. The Belgian is yet to defeat Celtic, having faced them half a dozen times.