From a distance, the massive points gap between Rangers and the rest in Scotland’s League One looks a wee bit embarrassing.
The Light Blues’ superiority over the others has been regularly highlighted this season, with Forfar’s 6-1 thrashing at Ibrox just last week only one example.
However, driving home from Station Park after watching a hugely-entertaining Scottish Cup tie between two clubs in the bottom half of that division I found myself thinking how harsh it would be to dismiss or belittle those teams trying to compete with the Glasgow giants week in, week out.
The fourth round replay between Forfar and Brechin was a veritable feast of football and a credit to both Angus sides and the country’s third tier.
It wasn’t all about guts and determination, although there were plenty of those attributes on show as the home team fought back three times to level and then went on to win a thrilling penalty shootout.
There was superb skill on show, intelligently-crafted goals and excellent fitness levels too.
Long gone are the days when extra-time meant a pile of part-timers scattered across the pitch suffering in agony from cramp.
Instead, these players kept an impressive pace up right to the end of an exhilirating 120 minutes.
I have always been an advocate of affordable football, with the Scottish game mostly asking too much from ordinary supporters during tough economic times.
However, those who paid the adult admission price of £12 to see the Loons v City cup classic got serious value for money with six goals and penalties.
Rangers will, of course, win the league be the proverbial country mile but that doesn’t mean the rest should not be valued and supported.