IT was important for Rangers to put the Old Firm game behind them and get back to winning ways against Hearts on Wednesday night at Ibrox.

Steven Gerrard was pleased with a really comfortable victory and two performances - those from Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe - were certainly encouraging for Rangers.

There was a worry when we signed both players in January that it could take them a wee bit of time to really get up to speed and that has proven to be the case.

It is one thing being fit, but it is quite another being match fit.

You need to be sharp on and off the ball, you have to be at it both physically and mentally to operate at the level Rangers require.

Jermain has scored goals when given a chance and he will get a run in the team while Alfredo Morelos is suspended over the next three games in the Premiership.

And Steven will hope that he can put together a few performances now because he was excellent the other night and he deserved his Man of the Match award as well.

It is good that both players are now coming to the fore, but unfortunate that it has come too late to matter in terms of the title race.

Both still have a big part to play, though, and they will be keen to show the fans what they could bring to the team next season if they are part of Steven’s squad once again.

Second place is never acceptable or good enough for Rangers, but that is the aim now unfortunately.

I am fed up hearing that there has been no progress this season. What a load of utter rubbish.

It hasn’t been the season we wanted, but we need to finish it well.