The August victory over Hearts was one of the few highlights of the PLG era and we gubbed them again when we went to Tynecastle in November so there is no reason why the ‘new' Rangers shouldn't make it three in a row this weekend. We've taken care of Dundee United and Dunfermline, tasks which proved beyond the capabilities of our team first time around, and now we must show we are back in business by putting fresh air between ourselves and those who would see us downgraded to third-raters yet again.
Make no mistake about it, this is a big game for us. Victory will take us eight points clear of the Jambos and, depending on how the Sheepies do at Love Street, maintain a significant gap between ourselves and our ‘friends in the north'. Knowing our tendency to slip up when least expected, we have to keep these upstarts playing catch-up and continue to build on the feelgood factor which has followed the return of Walter and Super Ally.
It will be very interesting to see how the partnership of Ehiogu and Weir works at the back. With Hearts showing signs of getting their act together again, there will be no room for error on Saturday. Our defenders will have to make it their business to be first to every ball, make sure the game is played as far away from the Rangers goal as possible and, hopefully, Barry will again rise to the task and call the shots in midfield.
Nonsensical suggestions that Paul Hartley might be a signing target for Rangers caused quite a stir on the FF Messageboard and I've no doubt his well publicised contempt for our club will see to it that he gets the welcome he deserves. And if Baz puts him in his place, showing Hartley to be nothing more than a shit-stirring wannabe, the Gers will be well on their way to victory.
Lets hope Boydie does a wee bit more than he did last weekend. I trust training twice a day, with him working on his left foot and the timing of his runs, has not been abandoned by the new regime. Kris has the potential to be a top class striker but only if he works at his game on the training ground and shows a greater willingness to put in a real shift on the park. The return of Coisty to the club can only help but, ultimately, it will be Boydie himself who decides how good he wants to be. If he could match wee Nacho's work-rate, he wouldn't be too far away from the top.
As the closing of the January window looms up on the horizon, very few of us have got over-excited about our transfer activity but, regardless of our personal viewpoints, we must get right behind the men who take the field against Hearts. The atmosphere against Dundee United was excellent but this time around we are facing genuine rivals, not relegation fodder, so the team will need our support more than ever.
At every level in the running of our club, there are grounds for concern but, whether we like it or not, we are powerless in so many areas. But that is not the case on matchdays. On these occasions we get to show what the club means to us, we get to project our image of Rangers and we are judged on this. All the skulduggery of the boardroom, the wheeling and dealing of the transfer market and the goings-on at the training ground matter not a jot if the team does the business on a Saturday afternoon. We can play our part.
So lets get Ibrox rocking to its rafters. Hearing close to 50,000 Bears cheer them on can only lift the players, inspiring them to greater efforts at a time when we need every little extra something we can muster. Make it happen.
ERWIN G.