Butland claims Rangers are not out of title race … despite falling ELEVEN POINTS behind leaders Celtic

Jack Butland is adamant Rangers are still in the title race despite slipping a distant 11 points behind leaders Celtic.

Saturday’s home draw with Dundee United meant Philippe Clement’s team have now shipped 13 points in their opening 12 Premiership matches with Brendan Rodgers’ men taking full advantage on that latest slip-up later that evening by defeating Hearts.

Presently third behind Aberdeen, most Rangers fans have conceded that their side already has no chance of winning the Premiership.

Asked if he believed Rangers were still in contention, though, Butland — skipper at the weekend after James Tavernier was again dropped — insisted: ‘People might not think that. You won’t catch us not thinking that.

‘The reality, we know what it looks like. We know we need to perform better if we want to be in a title race.

‘By no means are we out of it, but we’ve given ourselves way too much to do at this point.

The Rangers keeper was beaten by Sam Dalby as Dundee United took the lead

Cerny levelled for Rangers but they failed to find a winner as game finished 1-1

‘We need to start closing that gap and performances like that aren’t going to help us.’

Rangers do like they are making progress off the field with Malcolm Offord believed to be the leading contender to become the next permanent chairman with former Manchester United chief Patrick Stewart in the frame to become the next chief executive.

But with results on the park so inconsistent, the pressure on manager Philippe Clement is intensifying.

The subject of boos at the end of Saturday’s latest set-back, the Belgian’s position is now under serious threat.

Calling for a united front, though, Butland (below) added: ‘It’s part and parcel of it. It’s on all of us. If you’re not winning at Rangers, it’s on all of us.

‘Ultimately, the manager faces that and he has to face that more than any of us, but it’s on us all.

‘We’re not going to be pointing fingers, we’ve got to stick together.

‘I completely understand the fans’ frustration, rightly so, that turn up and support us everywhere we go.’

Nedim Bejrami rues a missed chance against Dundee United on Saturday

The players looked crestfallen, but Butland maintains the Ibrox side are still in title race

The former England keeper was asked if he felt everyone in the dressing room understood the demands of the club.

‘I hope so,’ he said.

‘It’s something that we try and reinforce all the time.

‘In the building and the training ground are reminders of the success. It’s not like any other club.

‘It’s a special place, and it demands it all the time, day in, day out, from us all.

‘That’s what it needs to be. I think for most, it’s been there the whole time.

‘Others, if they haven’t learned it, they need to learn it quick.

‘That’s on guys like me, and everybody, to step up — that’s what the shirt deserves.’