Having romped to a 55th league title last season, Rangers have not had it all their own way so far and were denied back-to-back unbeaten campaigns by Dundee United on matchday two.
Since the early August defeat to the Tangerines, Rangers have been able to recover somewhat and currently boast an eight-game streak without defeat, stretching back to their Tannadice trip.
However, it is not the longest run of games without loss, as that record is currently held by an in-form Hearts side, who Rangers could only muster a draw against in their last match at home.
John Lundstram’s first-half strike was cancelled out at the death by Craig Halkett’s equaliser in added time, ensuring Hearts maintained their position as the only unbeaten side in Scotland’s top three divisions.
Whilst a sustained Hearts title challenge remains an unlikely prospect, Rangers will still be wary of the steady advancements of rivals Celtic under new boss Ange Postecoglou.
By the time the next Old Firm match rolls around at the start of January, Celtic will be hoping they have cut the current four-point deficit to Rangers.
There are 11 league fixtures to come for Rangers before that game, starting with the visit of Aberdeen on Wednesday, who are still the last team outside the Old Firm duopoly to win the Scottish championship.
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A season ending in silverware seems a distant dream at this point for Stephen Glass’s side, who are slumped in eighth with just 11 points from 10 games.
Relegation will likely not be an issue for Aberdeen, yet they face an uphill task if they wish to sneak into Europe for a ninth consecutive season.
Knocked out of the Europa Conference league at the playoff round by Qarabag, it is now 13 years since the Dons last made it to a European group stage – a UEFA Cup campaign in 2007-08 that ended in an eventual knockouts defeat to Bayern Munich.
