A WEEK may well be, as Harold Wilson is widely credited with remarking, a long time in politics, but in football management, as Graeme Murty is finding out, it can be an absolute eternity.

This time seven days ago the Rangers manager was in buoyant spirits entering a Ladbrokes Premiership game against Celtic at Ibrox and with very good reason.

His side was on an impressive six game winning run and had the chance to move to within just three points of their city rivals at the top of the table with a victory.

It seemed very much as if Murty, who has only been confirmed as manager until the end of the 2017/18 campaign, was poised to secure the position long-term.

Fast forward a week, though, and the outlook is altogether bleaker for both Rangers as a club and Murty personally after back-to-back defeats at home to Celtic and Kilmarnock.

This costly 1-0 loss leaves the Ibrox club facing the possibility they may not even finish second in the top flight - Aberdeen are now just two points behind them with a game against Motherwell at Fir Park in hand.

If they continue to perform like they did here – unconvincing at the back, outmuscled in midfield and lacking in creativity and confidence in the final third – they will be beaten to the runners-up spot in the remaining weeks of the season.

That eventuality could deal a hammer blow, regardless of how they fare in their William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic next month, to whatever hopes Murty has of being kept on in his current role.

Rangers could really have no complaints about this setback. Murty dropped Alfredo Morelos, who had missed a late sitter against Brendan Rodgers’s team late on, and brought in Jason Cummings up front. But his charges disappointed in attack.

Russell Martin missed scoring opportunities in both halves – the centre half headed wide after being supplied by Sean Goss in the first and then struck the underside of the crossbar at a James Tavernier free-kick in the second.

Kirk Broadfoot, the former Rangers centre half, also did well to clear when a chance fell to Morelos, who had come on for the disappointing Josh Windass, in the six yard box in the 71st minute.

However, Murty conceded his team had failed to supply their forwards – and Cummings, Morelos and Kenny Miller were all on the park when referee Don Robertson blew the final whistle – with adequate service and accepted the result.

“I wouldn’t say there was a lack of endeavour or effort,” he said. “We found it difficult against a very well-organised team and we didn’t do enough to pull them apart or pull them out of their shape.

“We had always looked at games to try and rest Alfredo because he has played a lot of football and we also need to be fair to Jason who has been working extremely hard in training.

“I thought it was a good game that would fit him, but he doesn’t play in isolation. We need to get good supply to give him a good chance of representing himself properly.

“We were short on tempo. We were a bit flat. I thought we were too slow with the ball and played it backwards and sideways too often when there were holes to go and pay in.”

Should Kilmarnock, who won when Kris Boyd scored his 20th goal of the season in the 55th minute, continue to perform so impressively, and they have now lost just once in regulation time in 19 outings, then Steve Clarke could find himself being linked with bigger clubs.

His side hasn’t lost in five games against Rangers and Celtic since he was appointed back in October and have now taken seven points out of a possible nine against the former.

“I’m really proud of the players and they should be proud of their efforts as well,” said Clarke. “We had as many if not more chances than Rangers. We were obviously a bit lucky with the one that came off the crossbar.

“I actually turned to Alex Dyer (the Kilmarnock assistant) and said ‘you know what, it might be our day today’. It’s always good when you get these breaks at the right time, but the players worked hard for their breaks.”

Ultimately, Kilmarnock prevailed thanks to being more clinical than Rangers. “Normally Kris is in the right position at the right time,” said his manager. “You know if you get the ball in the box that he’ll be there or thereabouts.”