Rangers’ dropped points vs Motherwell are biggest of season says Gers icon Laudrup – as he questions January transfers
BRIAN LAUDRUP reckons the two points dropped by Rangers against Motherwell on Sunday are the "most important" of the season.
The momentum in the Premiership title race was set to tilt in the Gers' favour as they raced into a two-goal lead against the Fir Park men after the Hoops had drawn a blank against Hibs.
But it shifted again in the other direction - as goals from Jordan Roberts and Kayne Woolery saw the Fir Park men claim a priceless point - to much delight from the other half of the city.
It's all still to play for in the title race with ten matches still to play - including two Old Firm games - but Laudrup is well aware that the Ibrox men spurned a "golden opportunity".
The Dane writes in his Daily Mail column: "With just ten games remaining, we are turning for home in the Premiership title race.
"This is when things get decisive. Every little mistake counts because the time to correct them is fast running out.
"Psychologically, the two points they [Rangers] threw away against Motherwell on Sunday were the most important points of the season so far.
"A golden opportunity was wasted. And now the pressure on their shoulders is huge.
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"Rangers let Celtic get away with a poor performance at Easter Road. I watched that match on television and Ange Postecoglou's side had all the buoyancy of a flat tyre.
"They were devoid of energy, but you can bet they felt a whole lot better after hearing the result from Ibrox.
"You can talk about bad luck and everything else, but too many draws will always lose you the title in Scotland.
"That's the worry for Rangers going into a massive week. They cannot afford another error against either St Johnstone tomorrow evening or Aberdeen on Saturday.
"Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team have simply failed to gather necessary domestic results since the winter break.
"You could argue about a need to change personnel. But, for me, there is now an obvious concern on that front when you think back to the January window.
"At the midpoint of the season, you are looking for players who can offer fresh blood and impetus. But it just hasn't happened for Rangers. At least not yet.
"Look at Sunday as a perfect example. After Motherwell pulled it back to 2-2 with 14 minutes remaining, you think it's time to put on someone capable of making a difference in an attacking sense. A player who can create things and deliver a breakthrough.
"But Amad Diallo didn't get off the bench. As Rangers looked in vain for a winner, the Manchester United loanee wasn't asked to contribute.
"In fact, Kemar Roofe was the only substitute introduced with seven minutes remaining. That surely says something.
"Then you have the fact Aaron Ramsey again didn't make the squad as he tries, I assume, to get to the right condition after his well-publicised injury issues at Juventus.
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"No one doubts Ramsey's huge quality but time is running out for this loan move to be effective. The Wales star has not been able to make the difference many hoped he would.
James Sands was the other player added in January. We've seen bits and pieces from the American international, but not enough to say he is demanding a place in the starting line-up.
"We all know it takes time to gel at a new club. But, for differing reasons, it seems Diallo, Ramsey and Sands haven't convinced Van Bronckhorst that they are yet able to go and take on major responsibility in this title race. For me, that's a huge problem."
For Laudrup, eleven points dropped in eight games shows an obvious pattern: "Rangers have been unable to keep pressure on this newly-assembled Celtic team.
He added: "The only way to avoid people speaking or writing about mentality is to get the results. You must find a way.
"Celtic had been doing that until Sunday, but clearly they still have to answer questions about their ability to go the distance.
"When at their best earlier in the season, there was a fantastic energy about them.
"They were applying a lot of pressure to the opponent and operating with this fluent, attacking philosophy.
"But it was so flat against Hibs. I know Postecoglou had changed his team around from the second leg against Bodo/Glimt but they looked tired and mentally drained after being thumped over two matches by the Norwegian side.
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"Forget all the talk about only concentrating on themselves. You could see the heads of the Celtic players were down after the final whistle at Easter Road.
"If you'd managed to get a camera on them at 5pm, their expressions would have been very different. The Rangers result was like a gift from heaven."
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