Rangers misfits catch fire as Philippe Clement Express proves excuse proof amid multiple roadblocks – big match verdict

The Rangers bus found itself stuck in a standstill but the wheels on the Philippe Clement Express continue to go round and round.

On a night when the chaos on the roads was matched by the flare madness in the stands, the Ibrox side managed to keep their heads and motor on. It would have been easy for the Light Blues to grind to a halt amid the Storm Ciaran confusion as first a prang on the Tay Bridge and then the pyro prats among the travelling faithful threatened to throw a spanner in Rangers' works.

But goals from Ryan Jack and Danilo steered them in the right direction before the much-maligned Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers got in on the action as James Tavernier's stoppage-time penalty wrapped up a commanding win. It's now nine points from nine with their Belgian boss in the driver's seat and Rangers can look forward to Sunday's Viaplay Cup semi-final, knowing victory there will put them on course for the first trophy of the season.

The Ibrox side may not have been able to do much about the first hold-up but they can certainly do more to prevent the second. It was 7.25pm by the time a stern-faced Clement clambered off the coach - just 20 minutes before the scheduled start. Three quarters of an hour later the teams finally took to the pitch but the pyro display soon engulfed the pitch and triggered smoke alarms.

Only once police bosses were satisfied it was safe to resume did play get underway. But alarm bells were soon ringing again, this time for Tony Docherty's team. The Premiership new boys have won just one of their last six games and now find themselves sliding down from fifth to ninth as realities in the top flight begin to bite. Despite Storm Ciaran's best attempts, the Dens pitch was passed playable after