After a slow start to the campaign, the Ibrox side appeared to have the initiative in the title race when they beat their city rivals twice in succession in September.

Gers then went top for one night after beating Kilmarnock to make it seven wins on the spin in their first game after the international break.

But Celtic responded with back-to-back league victories over Motherwell and Hearts, whom they hammered 7-1 on Sunday, while Derek McInnes’ side were held to a 2-2 draw at Dundee on Saturday.

Former Gers captain and manager Ferguson is unfazed by the latest twist as he expects there to be many more pivotal weekends.

“The reason I’m not getting uptight is because there’s a hell of a lot of football still to be played,” he told the Go Radio Football Show.

“If there were just nine games to go then it would be a case of ‘What’s happening here?’, but there’s 29 games to go.

“I think there will be points dropped over the season by both Rangers and Celtic.

“I look at that block of eight games for Rangers, seven wins and one draw. It’s not a bad run.

“I’ve liked what I’ve seen in the last eight games. I think Rangers have got an edge to them which I thought was missing previously.”

Ferguson conceded Saturday night was “disappointing” for Rangers after they fought back to lead 2-1 through a Nico Raskin wonder strike before Dan Neil’s mistake allowed Callum Jones to equalise for Dundee.

“When Nico scores that brilliant goal, you think, ‘Right, let’s get another goal or just see it out at 2-1’,” he said.

“The mistake happens, Dundee obviously put it in the back of the net, and sometimes you’ve got to give the opposition credit. A lot of teams will go to Dens Park and come away with zero points.

“There’s always games within a season that it’s not going to quite work for you.

“They just need to dust themselves down and make sure they get three points against St Johnstone at Ibrox on Saturday.”

Ferguson hopes to see Kevin Kelsy restored in attack after the Venezuelan, who started the previous three matches in an imposing front two alongside Ryan Naderi, made way for Badredine Bouanani on Saturday.

“I liked the way Kelsy and Naderi were working,” Ferguson said. “I thought the formation was looking good and, most importantly, they were winning games of football.

“I thought Naderi was a bit isolated in the first half on Saturday, I think he plays better with a partner.

“Derek made the decision to change Kelsy with Bouanani, and he did come up trumps with his goal and he looked at a real danger, but I just like the two big boys up top, I think it’s worked really well for Rangers.”