GIOVANNI van Bronckhorst today refused to accept that Rangers’ chances of retaining the Scottish title are over despite a 2-1 defeat to Celtic at Ibrox leaving them six points adrift of the leaders with just six games remaining.

Rangers took an early lead in the cinch Premeirship game in Govan this afternoon when Aaron Ramsey fired past Joe Hart in just the third minute following good work by Calvin Bassey and Ryan Kent down the left wing.

However, the defending champions, who were six points clear when play resumed after the winter break in January, conceded goals to Tom Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers later in the first-half and were unable to level in the second.

Van Bronckhorst conceded Rangers’ hopes of finishing first in the top flight had been dealt a blow by the painful reverse – but the Dutch coach vowed that his men would keep on fighting until the end of the league season. 

“Well, losing today against Celtic made it more difficult for us,” he said. “That is obvious. It is not over yet, but of course the loss we had today makes it more difficult to be champion. If you play against your direct opponent for the race and you lose, you always make it more difficult.

“We need to keep on going. The emotions in football are highs and lows. Any football player will feel that, the days when you are very disappointed in the result.

“But there is still a lot to play for. Take this loss and disappointment, recover and be ready again on Thursday for Braga (in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final double header in Portugal). It’s another big game and we have to prepare well.”

Van Bronckhorst confessed he was disappointed the start of the second-half was delayed for several minutes because ground staff had to clear pieces of a broken bottle which had been thrown into the Celtic penalty box.

“Of course it’s not what you want,” he said. “You go out of the locker room and are preparing well for the second half, you want to go. Then you have to wait a couple of minutes.

“It’s never good that due to situations the game has to be stopped. I don’t think it’s a good thing. Safety is first and I understand we have to wait for the pitch to be playable for both teams.”