Title challenge over? Stunning stat sheds new light on Rangers’ bid….

Much gnashing of teeth and ire has been going on since Rangers’ latest ‘one step forward two steps back’ episode.

The result against Celtic already now looks like a distant memory and the appalling display and result v Killie is vividly being scrutinised, but there is one stat which puts this poor performance into perspective;

Rangers haven’t won at Rugby Park in the league since Kyle Lafferty’s title-winning hat trick in May 2011.

While there’s been the Journey and a weaker Rangers, yes, not even a strong Nikica Jelavic-endowed side could get a win at this venue in late 2011, and since then every league meeting has been either a draw or a loss for the visiting side.

So while there are no doubts Rangers’ display last night was simply not good enough, it must remembered the various XIs in the blue to have travelled to Ayrshire over the past eight years have also failed to registered a win.

The only exceptions are cup wins earlier this season and in recent seasons, but the rules in the cup are always different.

Killie have been Rangers’ league bogey team for a very, very long time – and while it doesn’t make last night’s loss easier to take, they have history for big results against us.

Furthermore, something else forgotten in the ether is Celtic also lost at Rugby Park this season, and Steve Clarke’s side have become a deep dark horse in this league as a result.

So, yes, it was bad, but let’s see how things go this weekend v Livi before completely losing the plot.