THERE is no room for Rangers to go into Saturday’s game against Kilmarnock feeling sorry for themselves or to still be licking their wounds over last Sunday’s defeat to Celtic, because if they are, they could very well be on the end of another demoralising defeat.
Steve Clarke’s side are on an incredible run, and were desperately unlucky as they took Aberdeen all the way to penalties in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night. They beat Rangers of course the last time they played down at Rugby Park, and their last visit to Ibrox was memorable for all the wrong reasons from a Rangers perspective.
To be one up in the last minute and standing over a penalty kick only to draw the game one-each was absolutely criminal, and was the final straw of the Pedro Caixinha reign.
Rangers, of course, have improved hugely since then under Graeme Murty, but so have Kilmarnock under Clarke since that night, and it will be a formidable test for Rangers.
It is vitally important that they get back to winning ways as soon as possible though, both for their chances of claiming second place ahead of Aberdeen and Hibs, and in order to build momentum again with the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on the horizon.
Rangers must regenerate that confidence and good feeling they had going into Sunday’s fixture. Ok, the result didn’t go their way in the end, but they have to be absolutely flying when they get to Hampden if they are going to have any chance of toppling the holders out of the competition.
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It is also imperative to win as many games at Ibrox as they can to dispel the legitimate concerns over their home form, and the ability of the players to handle the pressure of playing in front of 50,000 expectant Rangers supporters.
It won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination, but Rangers need to get back on track, and I fancy that they will.
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