League still on, UEFA Cup still on, games still dull

Barry Ferguson's solitary goal was enough to seal victory for Rangers as they embarked on the run of games that will end in glory or disaster.

Another game that wasn't hugely pleasing on the eye - except perhaps for the watching Dick Advocaat - needed the captain's well taken goal to keep the pressure on Celtic. The lead at the top of the table has now been cut to four points with Rangers still having two extra games to play.

So the Ibrox side are arguably back in the driving seat. Victory against Dundee United on Saturday will cut that gap to a point and pile the pressure on Celtic to perform against Hibs on Sunday.

The question is if the sluggishness that seems to have entered Rangers game can be shaken off against United or if another game, played with one eye on the bigger European prize, will mean another slip up.

The games may be dull but the results continue to provide tension.

The result also means it is pretty much as you were in the race for third. Craig Levein pretty much admitted that the UEFA Cup race, as previously mentioned here, is turning into a last man standing battle between three teams that are showing real signs of fatigue. The teams remain pretty much as they were at the time of the split. Which means the deciding fixtures may well prove to be the last day of the season when Hibs host Motherwell and United face Celtic.

Again the real excitement is proving to be in the results rather than any performances on the way. SPL thrills are an acquired taste.