IT is all in the mind.

For all the changes - tactical, technical and personal - Stuart McCall has made at Rangers, the one nobody can see is the most important.

At Easter Road on Sunday, it came to the fore, the results evident throughout the most encouraging 90 minutes the Light Blue legions have seen for some time.

It was far from perfect, far from what it could have been - and will need to be - as mistakes were made and the limited quality of this Ibrox squad was again evident.

But there was a determination, a fight that had been missing for some time and had become the most infuriating factor for a fan base let down too often by those who wear the famous blue jersey.

McCall's ability to inspire players and instil confidence in a squad that was bereft of belief was perhaps the defining factor in the Capital as Rangers clinched a deserved 2-0 win.

As the fans celebrated, there was a kiss of the badge and roar from Lee Wallace as Rangers' promotion hopes were given a timely and much-needed boost.

"All the players have always been passionate, I would never, ever say anyone hasn't been," Ibrox keeper Cammy Bell said.

"I think it's just down to the enthusiasm the new manager has brought, he's brought a spark to training too. He was always a passionate player himself and he soon lets us know if we are doing things right.

"He's been great and he's brought a new lease of life to some players. It's a good start for us, but we know there will be tough times ahead so we need to just take each game as it comes and concentrate on getting three points in the next game.

"Yes we've set a high bar, but at the end of the day we are playing for Rangers Football Club so the bar should be set high.

"We can handle that, we should be able to handle the pressure and I'm sure we will. That performance has been in us all season and it was just a case of trying to bring it out.

"I'm sure we'll take confidence in it and we'll work hard on the training pitch to make sure we are ready for games."

Having finally produced a performance and earned a result in one of the standout fixtures of the season, Rangers must now ensure those standards are maintained, and improved upon, in the coming weeks.

Victory in the Capital moved the Light Blues to within three points of Alan Stubbs' side in the second tier standings, with the visit of Cowdenbeath this weekend next on the agenda as they look to emerge from a barren run and finally find some form.

Bell said: "It was a massive result for us. It was a big game, we knew we needed to go out and perform and we did that, the manager got his tactics right and it worked out great for us.

"I don't think many people were expecting us to go there and win, but we knew ourselves we could go there and win.

"We've got good enough players. We have under-achieved this season and we'd admit that ourselves, but we just need to look forward now and take confidence from that game.

"It's a step-by-step process for us and we're now looking forward to the next match to try and get another three points."

With just eight games left this season, time is of the essence for McCall and Rangers as they look to claim second spot and head into the play-offs with some momentum.

In the midst of a run that saw Kenny McDowall's side record just one win in seven games, many fans had resigned themselves to another season in the second tier.

They can now look forward to a serious challenge for promotion under McCall's guidance and Bell is determined to clinch a Premiership place at the first time of asking.

He said: "You've got to be ambitious as a player and I want to play at the highest level I can with Rangers.

"I'm desperate to be back in the top league and I'm sure everyone else associated with the club is as well. We know it's going to be hard but there's still a great chance we can do it.

"We need to be playing well going into the play-offs, so it really starts from now. We have to take some good form into them. We have nine games left in the league and we have to show we can do it on the pitch."

The arrival of McCall has undoubtedly given Rangers a new lease of life this season but he is not the only familiar face that could have a significant impact in the promotion race.

Bell is back between the sticks after a lengthy lay-off with a shoulder injury and the Ibrox No.1 is determined to repay McCall's faith in him in the coming weeks.

He said: "I asked the question when the new manager came in. I told him straight away that I was fit, trained and played in a few reserve matches. It was great that he showed good faith in me.

"I had worked with the new gaffer in the past with Scotland a couple of times and knew him from there. It was good he put me back in and that I got a clean sheet on Sunday, which we haven't done enough of this season. We need to start demanding more in that regard."