James McFadden has questioned Philippe Clement's 'calculated' post-match interview as he claimed the Rangers manager was immediately "on the defensive" over the draw at Dens Park.

The Sky Sports pundit reckons Clement's backing of his players after the drab draw against Dundee was to protect the squad - but suggested the Ibrox players "need to be told" that it wasn't good enough.

Clement had demanded a reaction from his side against Dundee after defeat to Ross County at the weekend - and despite the slip-up as a three-point gap opened at the top of the table, the Ibrox boss insisted his players did fire back.

However, McFadden was not as convinced. The pundit stated he didn't agree with Clement's assessment and claimed the post-match interview was 'calculated' to avoid slaughtering the players and being left with "absolutely no chance of staying in the title race".

He said: "I think when Philippe Clement started telling Luke the game that he felt played out...I didn't agree with it.

"The more he spoke the more I was thinking that he was trying to protect his players.

"If he comes out and says, 'Not good enough, don't create enough, we've not got enough tempo, we look tired, we've not got the energy' - you're running out of time, you have not got loads of time to and prepare your players and try and pick them back up if you come out publically and slate them and say it's not good enough and we're too far off in the title in terms of performance.

READ MORE: Philippe Clement insists Rangers were the 'boss' of Dundee

"So straight away he goes on the defensive, you saw him at the end, deep in conversation with his assistant manager. If he felt what he said in the press conference...that was calculation I think, from Philippe Clement to look after his players because if he goes for them now they've got absolutely no chance of staying in the title race.

"I don't know if it will work because it looks like it's a group of players that need to be told that it's not good enough, you're not moving the ball quickly enough, there's no urgency in the play.

"From his press conference, I think he is trying to protect his players."