Dujon Sterling says Rangers played Dundee game 'like a dead rubber'

The 24-year-old, one of few to receive pass marks in recent weeks as Philippe Clement’s side have faltered from a position of strength in the Scottish Premiership, didn’t hold back when attempting to diagnose what went wrong against Dundee.

On the back of a dismal display in the Highlands three days previously, Clement’s side were unable to get back to winning ways during Wednesday evening’s rearranged game in Tayside during a 0-0 draw.

The result bookends a run of one win in five league matches. Since victories over Hearts and Kilmarnock at the end of February, the Ibrox side have dropped from two points ahead to three behind in the race for the Scottish Premiership title.

Clement argued that Rangers did respond to the below-par outing on Sunday speaking after Wednesday’s game, arguing that luck was against the visitors in a game they bossed.

However, Sterling offered a frank assessment when quizzed on why his side have faltered so dramatically in the past month.

“It’s difficult to say any words really. It is not good enough on our part. We have a lot of work to do and we need to reset,” he admitted.

"We need to get our heads in the game and switch our mentality because for now, it is not going in the right direction.

"There is still a lot of games to be played and there's still things to fight for. It is just disappointing and I don't really know what to say.

"We are fighting for a title and the way we are playing, it is as if we are not playing for anything. It’s like the season is dead and it is a dead rubber game. Somehow it has got to switch. It is a team thing, not just one person and not just the gaffer."

Only weeks ago Rangers were riding the crest of a wave having recovered miraculously under the tutelage of Clement. Initially, seven points adrift when the Belgian arrived in mid-October, their victory at Rugby Park a little under two months ago seemed to signify a serious title charge.

Since that win on February 28, the wheels of a title charge have come off. Rangers were shocked at home against Motherwell the following weekend and salvaged a late point in the most recent Old Firm, a thrilling 3-3 draw.

READ MORE: Why is Rangers' title push collapsing? Injuries, an xG nosedive and big questions

While two cancelled fixtures against Dundee due to pitch issues hampered preparations, the showing in Dingwall on Sunday was by Clement’s own admission the worst of his tenure. Dundee may not have inflicted as many shots on Jack Butland’s goal this midweek, but Rangers’ own chance creation was limited. The closest they came to a winner was Abdallah Sima’s shot in the first half when sent through on goal by Todd Cantwell. A consistency that was synonymous with the Ibrox outfit over the Christmas period and into Spring has evaporated in the past fortnight.

Sterling concedes that while the squad’s togetherness remains strong, their belief has waned in recent weeks which have included the aforementioned defeats against Motherwell and Ross County.

“We just have to have that belief that we can,” he added, when asked if his team can come back from the brink again, as was the case when they suffered an Old Firm defeat in December.

"Back then we had the togetherness, we had the belief. We still have the togetherness but I don't know if the belief is there. I think everyone has to switch their minds so that we can have that belief we can do this.

“Of course, anything can happen. We have five games left, five cup finals and hopefully the fans can push us to get through them."

While the title race is still mathematically open with five games to play, Rangers are five goals behind Celtic on goal difference. Even if they were to manage a rare win at Parkhead they’ll require a unique set of circumstances to lift a 56th Premiership title from this position in May.

Asked if he felt the squad owed Rangers fans a performance, Sterling added: "We owe ourselves a performance as well because we have been shit the past three games.

"I think we need to reset and do it for the fans as well because they have come home and away, backing us, singing for 90 minutes and we owe it to them."

"Obviously I understand why the fans are angry after the game but hopefully they can still back us for the rest of the game and still push us on.

“The past two weeks have featured disappointing results and I know they [the fans] have seen it before over the past years. Hopefully we can change that but we will see."

Rangers don’t have long to push the reset button with a Scottish Cup semi-final on the horizon. In-form Hearts stand between Clement’s men and a place in the final on May 25. As Sterling acknowledges only an improved performance will enable them to reach that goal.

"The dressing room is down at the minute. We dust this one off, get back to the training ground and review it, park it and focus on the semi-final."