Jo Potter's side had to win. 

This was their biggest game of the season but they looked like a team that really didn’t truly believe.

With three games left, they are level on points with their city rivals but a massive 13 behind on goal difference. They face Glasgow City and Hibs on the road before hosting Partick Thistle and require a miracle turnaround to lift the league title.

Rangers needed to beat Celtic but they failed to truly get at them as Elena Sadiku's side created the better of the opportunities. Natasha Flint was a constant menace and bullied the Rangers defence while Potter's strikers couldn’t quite get into proceedings. Sadly, it’s been the story of the last few months.

Rangers rattled the bar twice but they never really got going. I wanted more urgency, more directness and more aggression. Sadly, it just never happened.

Having been eight points clear, Rangers' league campaign looks to have fallen short. Much like the men, key injuries to star players have cost the team and unexpected dropped points to Partick and a defeat against Hearts looks so costly.

It’s been a season to remember with the League Cup already won and a Scottish Cup final place booked having beaten Celtic on the way to both. The team were flying before the injuries hit and those absences have been catastrophic.

Rachel McLauchlan's power and pace at the back has been badly missed. Her injury has forced midfielder Tess Middag to drop into the middle of the backline playing out of position, something that was apparent and exposed in the 2-1 Old Firm defeat in March.

Then there is Kirsty MacLean in midfield, the energy and heartbeat of the team. She's been missing since mid-February with an injury that has kept her out to this day.

Liv McLaughlin has covered well but she isn’t the same attacking threat and doesn’t have that sensational star quality that MacLean boasts. MacLean's absence has stifled the team and Rangers' threat has been reduced greatly. Meanwhile, Kirsty Howat's injury has coincided with a general lack of momentum.  

READ MORE: Inside Jo Potter's Rangers rise: Board buy-in, tactical detail and England experience

It’s not a stretch to say the spine of this Rangers team has been ripped out. The team were free-flowing and unstoppable almost until that happened. Some of the football that's been played has been quick and attacking, exciting and enjoyable to watch.

Even two days before the big derby ‘decider’ Rangers had Rachel McLauchlan and Kathy Hill pick up injuries in training which meant both could only play bit-part roles.

With that said, the loss of form and fluidity which made Rangers unstoppable in the middle of the season has slowly been eaten away. Now it's Celtic who have it all to lose.

You would imagine the goal difference would be enough if they secure three wins.

A cup double and European qualification would represent a good season but given how the league has gone, if Potter's side fall short it will ultimately be a failure. The investment at this level determines that anything other than being champions isn’t enough.

Women's and Girls Managing Director Donald Gillies now has a big job ahead of him as he looks to try and keep the nucleus of the squad together whilst deciding who goes and more importantly who comes in. But that’s for later.

For now, Rangers have to keep going and keep believing - and they have to start scoring goals very quickly. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? In fact, it’s uncanny how much it mirrors the men's situation.

So for supporters of the women, much like the men, it’s time to hope for a miracle.

Perhaps those famous Marvin Andrews words can help both senior sides.