'Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure, and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity.

No matter the days of anxiety that come our way, we shall emerge stronger because of the trials to be overcome.' Bill Struth.

THE words of one Rangers legend surely give comfort to another in these testing times.

Ally McCoist is proof that status and achievements count for little when the heat is on and the flak is flying.

The treatment dished out to the club's record goalscorer and one of their most decorated heroes at Tynecastle on Saturday shocked many and disappointed even more.

McCoist has served as a player, a coach, now does so as manager, and will continue to do so as a fan when his time at Ibrox comes to an end.

But neither the accolades or the mutual affection saved him in Gorgie as a section of the travelling Rangers support bombarded him with abuse and unsavoury chants.

Neither McCoist nor any man who follows him into the dugout will eclipse the feats of Bill Struth or have quite the same impact in shaping Rangers.

But the current Ibrox incumbent should take heed of Struth's message as he finds himself under increasing pressure and facing arguably his biggest challenge, on the field at least, of his tenure.

You are never more than three games away from a crisis as Rangers boss and McCoist is two-thirds of the way there.

Defeat at Tynecastle came just a week after an embarrassing draw at home to Alloa, the second time the part-timers have held Rangers this term.

Time has not lifted the sense of anger from supporters and not eased the pain for McCoist in the aftermath of results that have left Rangers nine points off the pace.

It may only be November, but Rangers are on the back foot. Light Blue legend John Brown blasted the efforts of McCoist's under-performing players while fans have called for the boss to be sacked as events on and off the field have culminated and taken their toll.

The fall-out is not unexpected, but it will not deter McCoist as he looks to the future, starting with Sunday's Scottish Cup tie against Kilmarnock.

"Not just Bomber, every man and his dog has had a comment to make this week," the 52-year-old said.

"That's just the way it goes. I wouldn't comment on any individuals' comments.

"But it's safe to say after a disappointing result last week we've come back and done our work looking back.

"But just as important, if not more important, is looking forward.

"The players know how we feel about last week and they know how we feel about this week.

"I think we have to take into account that stick and flak has flown about this club for 100 years - and I hope it will be here for another hundred years.

"We've seen it from various people this week, which is fine.

"But the most important thing is that the players know how we feel - and that we know how they feel too."

In a week where fans, pundits and former players have had their say, it is McCoist's words to his players that are most important for Rangers.

It is he who must find the answers to the problems that have plagued his side this season, faults that have left them adrift in the Championship title race and under the cosh.

The post-mortem has been conducted behind the gates of Murray Park, but it is at Ibrox where the true test will be for McCoist and his players.

The manager must ultimately take the responsibility for the failings of his team and an introspective look has, McCoist hopes, allowed him to find the answers.

"Oh yeah, absolutely," he said. "You look at everything. You look at yourself, you look at the players. You look at the whole lot. You look at the game and then you look forward.

"You're absolutely right [that it's been a week of self-analysis] because we made mistakes last week that we don't want to make again.

"That's been the whole objective of this week, analysing what's going on.

"There are certain things we felt happened changed the course of the game to our detriment.

"We understand that but we have to make sure it doesn't happen again. But you analyse everything, yes, the coaches as well, and then you regroup and you go again."

If McCoist cannot find the remedy to cure Rangers' ills, it will be the Ibrox boss who will pay the ultimate price.

Brown called out a number of the more senior players, the likes of Lee McCulloch, Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd, for their performances and the part they have played in Rangers' predicament this week.

SportTimes columnist Derek Johnstone also questioned the players' role but McCoist insists it is time to stick together, not point fingers.

He said: "There's a responsibility on all of us, not any one individual, to get the job done.

"If you're in the team at 17 it's for a reason.

"I know what people mean when they talk about the senior players helping them but it's all about being part of a team. That's the way I look at it. I wouldn't single out any individuals."

The next test for this under-fire Rangers side comes this weekend when McCoist looks to mastermind victory over a Premiership outfit for the third time this term.

Inverness Caley Thistle and St Johnstone have been beaten on cup duty already this season and McCoist is upbeat another scalp can be taken.

"I'm not even thinking about losing the game on Sunday," he said. "I think we will win the game if we go about it the right way.

"If we prepare, as we always have done and will continue to do, I believe we will win the game.

"We're not thinking about defeat at all. We're focusing on our performance and getting a team on the park that will win the game."