Despairing Rangers captain Barry Ferguson admits that the clock is ticking for boss Alex McLeish after the CIS Insurance Cup defeat by Celtic. "It certainly dawned on me that it could be the manager's last game," said the midfielder, whose side are also 12 points behind Celtic in the league.
"We're stuck in a rut and I just don't know how we are going to get out of it.
"It's a results-led business and time looks like it's running out on us. But you will have to ask people upstairs."
Ferguson knows that Rangers face a crucial time, with Celtic next up in the defence of the Scottish Premier League title and Porto in the Champions League four days later.
One consolation for Rangers was that defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos' red card against Celtic will not lead to a suspension for the vital league game.
 |  We have got to be stronger than that and be more resilient |
"It was a disappointed dressing-room and me, for one, will have a nightmare 10 days and I hope everybody is hurting, because I certainly am," he said.
"So, come the next game, hopefully we get the right result.
"It was tight in the first half, but then Shaun Maloney struck a wonder goal, which was like a knife getting stuck in your back.
"Big Soto then got sent off - and when the big man went I think that was it.
"But we have got to be stronger than that and be more resilient."
Ferguson understood the anger from Rangers' supporters, many of whom want McLeish to be sacked.
"The manager gets it, I get it, but we should be getting it because these people pay their money to come and see us," he said.
"But, from my point of view, it's not for the lack of trying.
"I've always given the gaffer 110% and I like to think everyone else has."
MMIX
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