THE countdown continues. There is no conundrum when it comes to the Premiership title race, however, as the clock ticks towards Rangers’ crowning moment.

The length of the Premiership table separated Steven Gerrard’s side and Hamilton Accies before kick-off. Come the end of this fixture, there was nothing between them on the park as the points were shared.

It was a result that Hamilton will feel they deserved and one which will leave Rangers – who had taken the lead through Brian Easton’s own goal late on – undoubtedly aggrieved. As Ross Callachan netted in the final seconds, Rangers were denied at the death.

The big picture remains the same, though. Rangers will win the title this term and they are six victories away from getting over the finishing line.

At the other end of the table, Brian Rice will hope that this battling draw can be the foundation upon which Hamilton can build as they look to avoid relegation once again. On this determined showing, they certainly have a chance.

Rangers will continue to stick to their ‘one game at a time’ mantra until the final points are secured. That moment will arrive in a matter of weeks and, come the final reckoning, forgettable afternoons such as this won’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

The goals and the drama drama would come late but it was a largely wretched encounter. The blustery wind that further emphasised the freezing temperatures in Lanarkshire didn’t help matters, but Rangers especially should have been far better than they were.

Accies certainly lacked quality but there was an endeavour in the way that they pressed that would have encouraged boss Rice. There was no sign that their lowly league position was having an adverse impact mentally, at least.

This was always going to be a far different fixture to the 8-0 at Ibrox earlier in the campaign but Gerrard would have expected more from his side. Rangers did have a couple of openings just before the break, but it was mostly lethargic and uninspiring stuff from the champions-elect.

Had Accies shown a bit more composure in the final third, they could have had a surprise lead. Bruce Anderson couldn’t convert either of their chances, though.

The first arrived after eleven minutes when he combined well with Marios Ogkmpoe and saw an effort from the edge of the area deflected wide of Allan McGregor’s right-hand post. Later in the half, he had an even clearer sight of target but couldn’t find it after Connor Goldson and Filip Helander conspired to concede cheap possession inside the Rangers box.

The slack pass from Goldson and poor control from Helander was symptomatic of a lacklustre first half from Rangers as they struggled to find any rhythm to their game. It was a stop-start encounter of niggling fouls and slack passes.

Ianis Hagi tried to produce something out of nothing from the edge of the area but couldn’t find the target, while Joe Aribo came closer but not close enough as his strike didn’t trouble keeper Ryan Fulton.

He would have to intervene to deny Goldson just before the break. A Cedric Itten strike was deflected wide and Goldson rose well to meet James Tavernier’s corner.

His header looped towards the back post, but Fulton would gather before it crossed the line and when Tavernier’s free-kick minutes later whistled over the bar, the half was destined to end goalless.

The time that Gerrard had with his players inside the makeshift away dressing room was crucial and the Gers boss would have demanded a reaction and a quicker start.

A shot from Ryan Kent that found the side netting just seconds after the restart was a sign of intent and there was more purpose about the way in which Rangers attacked early on.

It wouldn’t last, though, and it was Accies who would threaten next. McGregor made a terrific stop to deny Scott McMann on the angle from the left, and his second was even better as Callachan fired in the rebound that really should have resulted in the opening goal of the afternoon.

The Gers keeper was forced into action again a couple of minutes later – after Ryan Jack had replaced Bongani Zungu and Fulton saved a tame Aribo effort – as Anderson again tried his luck. With the hour mark behind them, Hamilton must have been starting to fancy their chances.

Kent could only fire wide after collecting a neat pass from Jack and McGregor had to make another save to keep Rangers in it, the keeper denying Callachan again after Helander had brought an end to a run from Jamie Hamilton just in time.

The goal would soon come. Steven Davis had only been on the park a matter of seconds and he made the difference.

A pass down the channel gave Barisic time and space to pick out a man. It was Easton who would get the final touch as Accies were undone by one of their own but the celebrations on the Rangers bench told their own story.

So did the ones just yards away when Callachan rescued a point for Accies with the final kick of the ball. The angle was tight, but Callachan wouldn’t be denied again as he bundled the ball home after McGregor had once again saved from Anderson.

There was no time for Rangers to recover here. But the clock is still ticking towards their coronation as champions.