Richard Gough has revealed his frustration at missing out on what he reckons should have been an "easy" 10th Scottish title in a row for Rangers .
The former Ibrox skipper answered an SOS from Walter Smith in 1997 to return from America and help ease a defensive injury crisis.
It was supposed to be the masterstroke that would ease the pressure as Rangers looked to secure a record 10 in a row.
But, despite a strong start to the campaign which coincided with Celtic stuttering early on under new boss Wim Jansen, Smith's side flopped after the turn of the year and allowed the Hoops to romp back and clinch the title on the final day by a single point.
Gough , who had led Rangers to the record-equalling 9 in a row, had left for a new adventure in the MLS with Kansas City Wizards. But when injuries to Lorenzo Amaruso and Alan McLaren left Smith short at the back he made the call to the States.
The towering defender, now 57, couldn't resist the shot at history. But things didn't quite go to plan.
Rangers lost five times between January and May - including their only defeat to Celtic in five meetings - and were made to pay for dropped points as Celtic ended their decade-long wait for a title.
"Amoruso and Alan McLaren got injured, so Walter asked me to come back," he told the Mail on Sunday .
"The 10 - I always say we should have won that easy.
"We played Celtic five times that season and lost only once. Going for 10 didn't feel pressurised, the nine was more intense.
"We dropped home points to Dunfermline and Kilmarnock and lost the league by a point.
"It was just poor by us players."
Gough reckons Rangers paid the price for trying to combine Europe and domestic success without a big enough squad.
But he reckons Steven Gerrard has invested in his squad wisely and have a good chance of ending Celtic as another 9 in a row landmark beckons at Parkhead.
The Ibrox ambassador said: "Rangers this year look a wee bit stronger than they were, certainly mentally.
"We have brought quite a lot of players and Steven has used them in a good way. There are a lot of interchangeable, similar players.
"Hopefully they can carry on getting results. They have only lost one in 15. Do that in the next 15, then great."
