PHILIPPE CLEMENT insists Rangers DESERVE to be in the title race after digging deep to beat Neil Warnock’s Aberdeen.
Gers sweated through eight minutes of stoppage time after sub Dujon Sterling landed a straight red card.
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They’d seen Rabbi Matondo’s early opener cancelled out by Bojan Miovski before Todd Cantwell struck a dramatic winner.
And boss Clement, whose side are now level on points with champions Celtic at the Premiership summit, says they can stay there for the long haul.
The Belgian said: “I believe totally in it. I believe this team can go a really long way if they stick together.
“We need no egos and everyone thinking about the team and not themselves – and they will have a really great season in three competitions.
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“This was about the mentality, the team spirit and also the football. It wasn’t only the team spirit which won the game, we were clearly the better team on the ball.
“I was really satisfied with the synergy back in the stadium. It was one of the reasons I was tempted to come here.
“I’m really pleased this is the case. It’s a big difference from three or four months ago and everyone is enjoying it.
“This was a game where things went against us and luck was not only on our side.
“We totally dominated the first half with good football and good chances.
“A few months ago there would have been tensions in heads at 1-1, there would have been doubts in the team and the fans also.
“That’s not the case any more. They know and feel on the pitch that we’re close to three points if we keep doing what we’re doing. It’s getting better.
“It’s a massive thing if you win games like this.”
Matchwinner Cantwell said: “I don’t know what this will mean. It’s a long season.
“We said before the game that we’re looking to take every game as it comes and it doesn’t change after it.
“I thought we were really good in the first half and were unlucky to go in at 1-1.
“The message was to go out and keep doing what we were doing – and it paid off in the end.”
Dons boss Warnock, taking charge for the first time, said: “The application was fabulous. They stood up.
“The fans were brilliant and I’ve nothing but praise.
“It’s been a hectic few days, I enjoyed watching them and they can only get better.
“We grew into the game and I said at half-time I thought we could do better in the final third.
“They’ve had a good run at home and it’s a difficult place to come. It wasn’t to be but I can’t credit them enough for the way they stuck at it.
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“Aberdeen will get a lot of money for Miovski because he’ll score 30 goals this season.
“There was no lack of effort but we need a little more guile and confidence. At the end, you’ve got the ball boys adding on five minutes. Who teaches them at Ibrox?”
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