Clement needs derby win to get fans onside and rouse drifting Rangers

Philippe Clement can only hope the law of averages is due to swing in his favour.

- Ewan Murray

If not, the sense of an elongated, unsatisfactory conclusion to his spell as the manager of Rangers will have intensified by this 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.

Clement can reasonably point out that any focus on this fixture is unfair. Celtic, after all, are vastly superior to Rangers; they have been for more than a decade, save the odd notable high for Glasgow's blue half. Cliché suggests form books fly from windows in derby games, which is typically untrue. Given Celtic have dominated Scottish football in this era, it follows logic Rangers will have a tough time beating them.