Kieran Freeman is encouraged by Dundee United’s return to form going into the final five cinch Premiership fixtures but insists they are “far from out” of relegation trouble.
The Tannadice side have won three consecutive games with one defeat in six under boss Jim Goodwin, who took over from Liam Fox on a short-term contract on March 1.
United moved up to 10th place, above Kilmarnock on goal difference and four points ahead of Ross County, before the league fixtures took a break for last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Goodwin’s side return to action in the bottom six on Saturday with a trip to Tayside rivals St Johnstone, who parted ways with boss Callum Davidson after a run of six games without a win.
Interim boss Steven MacLean managed a 1-1 draw with Hibernian last time out to leave them just two points above United but Freeman remains wary.
The 23-year-old defender told DUTV: “One weekend with the results going against us and we could be bottom again.
“We are far from out of it but it has been positive the last few weeks and hopefully we keep that going.
“It was good form to go into it (break) but it shows you how far off we were that after three consecutive wins we are still in it.
“We need to start afresh again and pick up as many points as possible.
“We have been playing well as a team, the clean sheet we had (2-0 win over Livingston in last game) helps and getting more bodies forward.
“The gaffer has got us organised and hard to beat and that makes a big difference.
“He has been brilliant since he has come in but that’s no disrespect to Foxy, it was the players that let him down, it was nothing to do with Foxy.
“But we are working together to try to keep the club up.
“We would be delighted if we woke up on Sunday morning above St Johnstone, that’s one place away from the drop so that’s a positive but we have to take each game as it comes and try to get the three points.”
Clement wants ruthless Rangers after nervy win over Hearts
Rangers boss Philippe Clement called on his team to show greater ruthlessness after they were made to work for a 1-0 win over Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Cyriel Dessers put the Gers ahead after just six minutes at Ibrox, diverting James Tavernier's effort past visiting goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
However, Clement's team failed to build on that quick start and inched over the line amid a tense atmosphere, moving back to within nine points of pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen.
Speaking after the game, Clement acknowledged his players are fatigued after a gruelling run of fixtures but added they must start taking their chances.
"We made too many wrong choices with the ball and became too sloppy," Clement said.
"It's the end of a very busy period, though, with a lot of travelling and they're all human beings, not robots.
"We missed scoring the second goal and we know that until you get that goal the other team stays in the game, so I want us to kill the belief of the opponent faster.
"I'm very satisfied with the result and the deserved three points. We didn't show the same quality in the second half and we didn't finish off the game. We had a few chances, but it stays nervous until the last second."
Rangers host Dundee United after the international break, while Celtic visit Hearts and Aberdeen travel to St. Mirren.
Celtic show 'another side' in following up Leipzig win by beating Kilmarnock
Celtic beat Kilmarnock 2-0 on Sunday to return to the top of the Scottish Premiership table, showing "another side" to their play after stunning RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers' side defeated German side Leipzig 3-1 on Tuesday to put themselves in a strong position in the league phase of the Champions League, but their attentions returned to domestic action this weekend.
And after Aberdeen eased past Dundee, Celtic knew they must win again to reclaim top spot on goal difference.
Goals from Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn ensured they did just that, although it was a battle for the champions.
"They're totally different games, more fighting football [against Kilmarnock] and what you've got to contend with," Celtic boss Rodgers told Sky Sports.
"But I thought the players were absolutely brilliant, how they had to defend the pressure. The build-up comes quite direct from behind, so they know you have to stand up to the long balls and long throws and everything else.
"The players have shown this week they can deal with all types of games. Today was a brilliant, brilliant win for us and showed another side to us."
They will next face Hearts on 23 November, after the international break.
Celtic show 'another side' in following up Leipzig win by beating Kilmarnoc
Celtic beat Kilmarnock 2-0 on Sunday to return to the top of the Scottish Premiership table, showing "another side" to their play after stunning RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers' side defeated German side Leipzig 3-1 on Tuesday to put themselves in a strong position in the league phase of the Champions League, but their attentions returned to domestic action this weekend.
And after Aberdeen eased past Dundee, Celtic knew they must win again to reclaim top spot on goal difference.
Goals from Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn ensured they did just that, although it was a battle for the champions.
"They're totally different games, more fighting football [against Kilmarnock] and what you've got to contend with," Celtic boss Rodgers told Sky Sports.
"But I thought the players were absolutely brilliant, how they had to defend the pressure. The build-up comes quite direct from behind, so they know you have to stand up to the long balls and long throws and everything else.
"The players have shown this week they can deal with all types of games. Today was a brilliant, brilliant win for us and showed another side to us."
They will next face Hearts on 23 November, after the international break.
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