AT the end of every title race, there are always ifs, buts and maybes, thoughts of what might have been, when a team is so close yet so far at the top.

Those regrets haven’t been in the minds of Rangers supporters over the last two years, but they certainly will be come May if Steven Gerrard’s side ultimately fall short and don’t lift the Premiership silverware.

Under Mark Warburton and then Pedro Caixinha, the dreams of title glory quickly faded as reality hit home about just where Rangers, and Celtic, were and the gap across the Old Firm divide.

Even the most optimistic and positive of fans had to admit defeat within weeks of the first ball being kicked as it became evident that the Light Blues were never going to catch, never mind overcome, Brendan Rodgers’ side.

There was a different feeling amongst the support this season, however, with the appointment of Steven Gerrard and the arrival of a higher calibre of player raising expectation levels once again.

At the start of the campaign, it certainly wasn’t stretching it to suggest that Rangers should look to mount a solid challenge for the title. A Betfred Cup or Scottish Cup win wasn’t out of the question, either.

Given the position of strength that Celtic found themselves in on the back of the double Treble, events were always going to have to fall in Rangers’ favour if they were to stop eight-in-a-row.

But even as those items have been ticked off, it still looks as if it won’t quite be enough for Gerrard’s side as they somehow look to claw back an eight point deficit in just ten fixtures.

The first two boosts for Rangers arrived early in the season as Celtic missed out on Champions League football and then floundered in the transfer market as targets weren’t acquired and Moussa Dembele was sold to Lyon.

At that stage, the Gers were buoyed by their own European adventure as they progressed through four qualifiers and reached the Europa League group stages. In terms of experience and finance, it was a major achievement for Gerrard just weeks into his managerial career.

But the momentum wasn’t harnessed domestically as the first Old Firm fixture was lost and then three points were squandered at Livingston. The next month, two more were given up against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen beat Gerrard’s side at Hampden.

As the weeks progressed, Rangers showed what they could be capable of, but not often enough as performance levels fluctuated and points slipped through their grasps. It was frustrating, but at that stage it wasn’t costly.

And when Ryan Jack’s Old Firm winner was followed by the arrivals of Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe in the January window, there was a sense that Rangers fancied their chances in the Premiership.

But by the time the next piece of the jigsaw had fallen into place and Rodgers quit Parkhead, Rangers had dropped five more points and fallen off the pace.

Celtic fans were furious at the timing of the Northern Irishman’s exit and the acrimonious circumstances surrounding his move to Leicester City.

From Rangers’ perspective, it looks like it has come just too late and there may not be enough of the season left for the Light Blues to really take advantage of Celtic’s upheaval.

That has been a theme for Gerrard’s side this term as strides forward have been followed by steps back. There has been no run that would mark a team out as potential champions, no sustained pressure applied across the city.

Now, with just two league fixtures – away to Hibernian and at home to Kilmarnock – before the next derby clash, Rangers know any further slip-ups will surely be the end of their title challenge.

The departure of Rodgers could have swung the momentum back in Rangers’ favour but Celtic’s late winner at Tynecastle on Wednesday felt like a significant moment. On Saturday, Neil Lennon ensured that was maintained as he won on his return to Easter Road.

At the end of a tumultuous and testing week, Celtic have emerged unscathed and Rangers are still waiting, hoping, for a sign of weakness from their Old Firm rivals.

All Gerrard’s side can do is keep winning and see if Celtic falter and a win at Parkhead later this month is surely a must if the title race is to go into the final weeks.

If the unlikely does unfold and Rangers somehow lift the silverware, the 55th league crown will be celebrated like few others by the Ibrox crowd.

If it is green and white ribbons that adorn the trophy once again, it will be tough to take for Rangers and it will certainly be viewed as an opportunity missed.

Progress has been made and Rangers are undoubtedly considerably better under Gerrard.

Time will tell if they are good enough or not.

AND ANOTHER THING

THE Union Bears have added noise and colour to the Rangers support in recent seasons and this column has previously backed the idea of a safe standing section at Ibrox.

It would be terrific, but it appears to be no closer and the UB's staged a protest on Wednesday night after what they see as a breakdown in their relationship with the club.

Some of the songbook certainly leaves them open to criticism and does them no favours within Ibrox or further afield. They need to be smarter in that regard and help themselves before Rangers can help them.

Rather that stay silent, both parties need to keep talking to find a solution that would benefit all of Ibrox going forward.