THE fear factor didn’t quite have the desired impact last season but Steven Gerrard is going some way to ensuring Ibrox is home sweet home for Rangers once again.

In years gone by, the sight of a 50,000-strong Gers crowd would intimidate opposition teams as players failed to perform on the big stage.

When Pedro Caixinha and then Graeme Murty were in the dugout, it was their own side that were spooked, though. The burden was just too great for individuals who weren’t equipped to cope.

Gerrard knew that had to change this term and there could be no repeat of the history-breaking run that saw Rangers lose seven times during a lamentable campaign.

The points that the Gers shipped on home soil didn’t just deny them second place in the Premiership, it cost them any chance of even challenging Celtic for the title, never mind going on and winning it.

The Old Firm defeats were bad enough for the Light Blue legions to watch but they trudged away disheartened and disillusioned after seeing the likes of Hamilton, St Johnstone and Killie leave with all three points.

These days, they are heading for the exits with a spring in their step and, on nine occasions out of ten, with a win to celebrate. Only Osijek, thanks to Borna Barisic’s last-minute equaliser in the Europa League second qualifying round, have blotted Gerrard’s Ibrox record so far.

Gerrard has spoken about making Ibrox a ‘fortress’ again, a venue where teams travel in hope rather than expectation and, perhaps, with a bit of trepidation. He has lauded the home support and must continue to harness the feelgood factor he has created behind the famous red façade.

The wins over Rapid Vienna and Hearts in recent days have been two of the most thrilling for an expectant and demanding fanbase. Both have been won by 3-1 scorelines and both have been hugely significant as Rangers have moved top of Group G and cut the gap to the Jambos to five points in the Premiership.

This is a side that appear inspired by the crowd rather than daunted by it.

The noise that was generated in the closing stages against Vienna on Thursday night was unlike anything the Gers fans have produced for some time. It was a proper Ibrox roar.

When the action is attacking and exciting on the park, the fans make their voices heard and when the crowd are at their best, the players rise to the occasion. That scenario isn’t there when Rangers are on the road, however, and Gerrard must find a way of solving that problem quickly.

A successful title challenge is built on a bulletproof home record but faltering away will quickly undo all that good work and it is the points dropped at Aberdeen, Motherwell, Celtic and Livingston that have cost Rangers top spot going into the international break.

Rangers will return to action in a fortnight with a trip to Hamilton. On another plastic pitch, against another dogged and determined team, they can’t afford another slip-up.

“It’s a lot harder away from home,” Gerrard said in the aftermath of the win over Hearts on Sunday.

“We understand that. We respect it. I think we need to find the Aberdeen performance away from home, which was very good and deserved three points. I know it’s in there. I know we are capable of it.

“We just need to try and find something close to the Aberdeen performance or our performances over the last four days and I’m sure we will take maximum points on the road at certain places.”

Under Murty’s management last term, Rangers were able to win at Murrayfield, Easter Road and Pittodrie and earn a point at Parkhead. If a side as bad as that can do it, there is no reason why the one that Gerrard has assembled can’t.

Whether it is down to tactics or mentality, the 38-year-old must find a solution. Fortress Ibrox is one thing, but Rangers must be formidable on the road this season.