Gio van Bronckhorst admits Rangers have to be "perfect" after losing to St Johnstone as he echoed Ange Postecoglou's title requirement from last season.
The Light Blues have won just once in their last five matches in all competitions. A 4-1 drubbing of Aberdeen was a bright spot amid a clutch of European thumpings, while a 1-1 home draw had to be salvaged at the death against Livingston before defeat to St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon.
Those dropped points have seen Celtic surge seven points clear at the Premiership summit, leaving van Bronckhorst with a massive job on his hands to even try and keep pace with their city rivals. Whether he'll get the chance to try and make up that ground is now extremely doubtful given their current position and lack of positives to take from recent games. Last season, Postecoglou found himself chasing the Hoops' city neighbours and his players responded by reeling them in.
Now it's Rangers' turn but confidence in them being able to do so is low amongst onlookers. Van Bronckhorst told BBC Scotland: "Losing three points is always damaging, no matter what stage of the season. Losing five points in three matches in too many and not acceptable at a club like Rangers.
"We always have to be perfect. Today, if you're not focused for 90 minutes and not perfect, no matter who you play in this league, you will have it difficult. That was obvious today as well."
The travelling support made their feelings known towards their side at McDiarmid Park. It comes on the back off Rangers being booed off against Dundee and Livingston.
"Of course," van Bronckhorst told Sky Sports when asked if he could understand the fans' anger. If you lose 2-1 to St Johnstone away, then for me there is no excuse."
When quizzed on the pressure he is under, the Rangers boss replied: "It's already there the last couple of weeks and of course a defeat doesn't help. But we have to continue.
"We are very disappointed with the result but we have to move forward. It's always difficult to take losses, especially when you are the manager or a player of a big club. You are expected to win and if you don't, then you;'re very disappointed. At home to Livingston, we lost two points. Today we lost three points so that's five points in three league games. That's too much and obviously people are not happy.
"We aren't happy either. But it is what it is at the moment.
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