TO some it is a gap, to others it is a gulf. However it is gauged, James Tavernier feels it is getting smaller on the park. The challenge now for Rangers is to reduce it in the Premiership.

There have been gradual signs of improvement for Mark Warburton’s side when they have faced Celtic this season but victory has eluded them on all three occasions. On Hogmanay at Ibrox they were better, but not good enough.

There was an undoubted feeling of disappointment, perhaps one of what might have been, but certainly not of embarrassment. Rangers’ efforts were unrewarded, but it was no 5-1 drubbing like the one they suffered at Parkhead.

On the pitch, and on that day, there wasn’t as much between the Old Firm rivals. In the Premiership standings, 19 points separates them, though, and that deficit must be closed.

“Whenever you lose an Old Firm game, it's not a great feeling. We're still disappointed about it,” Tavernier said. “We felt we had chances to wrap up the points. Celtic finished strongly and managed to take one more opportunity than us. But we had plenty of chances to finish them off. Kenny (Miller) hit the post and we could have won it.

“It was disappointing but compared to where we were when we lost 5-1 at Parkhead – we've come on leaps and bounds since then. The gap has definitely shortened. We were only a step away from beating Celtic at Ibrox.

“At Celtic Park, it was Brendan Rodgers' first Old Firm game and you could tell that by their tempo. They were right at it. But we've almost turned the tables now. We'll continue to try and close the gap but we feel we're definitely doing that.”

If Rangers are to overhaul Rodgers’ side in any of the remaining derby duels this term, they will have to improve at both ends of the park. At Ibrox, like on so many occasions this season, Warburton was left to rue missed opportunities and defensive deficiencies.

Despite Miller’s early opener, goals from Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair clinched it for Celtic. The finger of blame was pointed at Tavernier as Sinclair found space to convert but the right-back is satisfied with his showings against one of Celtic’s key men this term.

“For the winning goal at Ibrox, there was a bit of miscommunication between myself and Rob (Kiernan),” Tavernier said. “Danny (Wilson) and Clint (Hill) got dragged across so Rob had to leave Sinclair. I was on the edge of the box to try and get any flick-ons. Listen, it was a split second moment. It was disappointing but I don't think we could have done too much about it.

“In the first game at Parkhead, I felt I did really well against Sinclair. At Hampden in the League Cup semi-final, I was playing at right-wing. And at Ibrox in the last game, I was at wing-back so pushed on a bit more. I was concentrating on Celtic's left-back so Sinclair was behind me quite often.

“So I haven't really had a full game up against him. But he's a top player for them, he's played at the highest level in England. Once he gets going with the ball, he's difficult to defend against but you have to try and stop him.”

With Celtic waltzing off into the distance at the top of the table, Rangers have adjusted their targets and set their focus on Aberdeen and Hearts for the remainder of the campaign. Any hopes of a title challenge were quickly extinguished and it is the race to be best of the rest that Warburton’s side must now win this term.

Rangers return to competitive action against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup next weekend but Tavernier knows the Premiership remains the priority at Ibrox.

“Our aim for the rest of the season is just to cement second place in the league and get closer to Celtic,” he said. “Getting second is the minimum requirement and we've spoken about that. Celtic got off to a flier and have a terrific points tally. But we need to do our best to shorten that gap and ensure we qualify for Europe.

“We felt we got closer to them at Ibrox and I expect more improvement the next time we play them at their place. We'll have a point to prove going there in March after what happened last time. With the new additions we feel closer. The gap is definitely getting smaller and we want to show that at Celtic Park.

*On Thursday, 26 January, Rangers will host the official 2017 Burns Supper at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow. Fans can book now to enjoy an evening in the company of fellow Burns fans and Rangers figures past and present. Tickets priced at £89* + VAT per person or £850 + VAT for a table of 10. Supporters can book online at www.rangers.co.uk, call 0871 702 1972 or email events@rangers.co.uk.