DAVO'S FINAL ASSIST

_=/ Steven won't admit it but his three points in Baise may yet play big part in the title race

- KEITH JACKSON

STEVEN DAVIS is going through the process of earning his badges as a coach.

But the real-life lessons he learned earlier this season when thrown into the burning bin fire of Rangers' season - may end up being among the most important he'll take on board on his journey into management.

And the three points he picked up in the midst of that crisis, in his capacity as a caretaker boss in Paisley in October, might also yet prove to be crucial now that this season's title fight is sprawling into the final straight.

If Rangers somehow manage to complete their recovery by claiming back the league crown then Davis will have contributed one last huge achievement for the club he never wanted to leave.

A career-ending injury may have kept him on the sidelines until he chose to call it a day in January at the age of 39.

But it was from there he oversaw the 3-0 victory at St Mirren which just might have kept Philippe Clement in with a puncher's chance when the Belgian took on the task of wading into the mess Michael Beale had left behind.

Davis is far too modest and unassuming to claim any kind of credit for his small part in the ongoing proceedings. But the fact remains, without that win Rangers would be as good as dead and buried going into the post-split dash to the line.

Instead, they return to the same venue on Sunday looking to pull level with Celtic at the top and pile the pressure on the champions before they face Dundee later in the afternoon.

When asked to cast his mind back to being caught up in the eye of that early-season storm, Davis said: "It feels like a different season to be honest.

"I started the campaign with the intention of getting back playing, It didn't pan out the way I wished but I'm 39 now and I have to appreciate everything that comes with that too.