Turn up the
Hutton tells Gers to bring their A game and show Bhoys they are still a big noise in front of crowds
ALAN HUTTON reckons it’s a load of nonsense the Rangers squad have been accused of suffering stage fright when they walk out on the big stage in front of a full audience.
But the former Ibrox star knows there’s only one way to bury the myth.
Hutton finds it all a bit amusing his old side have been branded a bunch of night shift workers complaining about the din during the day.
The theory goes Steven Gerrard’s men were fine with grounds lying empty last season but go into their shells when places are packed to the rafters in this one.
Snipers point to the return of crowds at Tannadice, where Rangers lost at the start of the month, and at Ibrox given the Champions League collapse against 10-man Malmo.
Even last week’s narrow Europa League play-off win over Alashkert is used as evidence of performance anxiety.
Hutton doesn’t buy it, though. He’s been back at Ibrox and the punters are not waiting to pounce on their own at the first sign of trouble.
The Light Blue legions are desperate for their side to put on a show like they did on telly last season and there were signs in Dingwall on Sunday that Gerrard’s men are finding their groove again.
Rolling Ross County in the Highlands isn’t the acid test, though. The next few days will set the tone for the next few months.
Gers need to deal with the searing heat of Armenia tomorrow, then the white-hot atmosphere of Sunday’s Old Firm showdown.
Celtic fans will be locked out at the weekend while cheeky Hoops fans reckon that only cranks up the pressure on the Rangers squad.
But Hutton said: “It’s nonsense. The comparison is there because they ran away with the title last season behind closed doors.
“The fans are back this year and they’ve struggled a bit. Everyone is pointing the finger at that being the reason.
“I was at the Malmo game and the crowd was with them all the way. The atmosphere was unbelievable.
“It’s not like they were on the players. Yes, they might have vented their opinion at the end but for the 90 minutes they were behind the side all the way.
“Now it’s up to Rangers to show that’s not the reason they struggled, that they can play in front of big crowds and put all this talk to bed, once and for all.
“I don’t see it as a problem. All of these boys have played in huge games in front of big crowds. It’s not going to be an issue going forward.”
Hutton expects Rangers to do the business in Yerevan, even though it’s going to be a tricky tie to negotiate.
But he knows Glasgow is already counting down the minutes to the first derby showdown of the season.
And he reckons whoever gets the upper hand in four days’ time could be stealing a march in the title race.
Hutton said: “It’s important. Whoever wins, it doesn’t mean they are going to go on and win the league. But it’s about putting down a marker and showing your biggest rivals what you are all about.
“You always want to beat them anyway. It doesn’t matter if it’s a league or cup game – or even a friendly. You always want to win.
“It’ll be no different this time. At the start of the season I thought it would be Rangers all the way to winning the league again.
“But it just shows you how quickly football can turn upside down. Celtic looked really ropy, especially defensively, but they have turned it around.
“They’ve brought in Kyogo Furuhashi, who looks unbelievable, and Ryan Christie has kicked on.
“They are really getting up to speed while Rangers have had their little dip.
“They will need to be on their game as Celtic will be desperate for the win after what happened last season.”
Gerrard held talks with his senior pros after the Malmo exit and it seems to have done the trick with three wins on the spin since going down to the Swedes in Glasgow.
Hutton is looking to Old Firm veterans such as Allan McGregor and Steven Davis to
I don’t see it as a problem. All these boys have played in huge games in front of big crowds ALAN HUTTON ON THE MATCH ATMOSPHERE
make sure there are no slip-ups when their rivals head across the city.
The 36-year-old added: “Rangers will be looking to the experienced players, guys like McGregor and Davis.
“They have been there and done it. They’ve won titles with Rangers and know what it takes and what it feels like.
“You need the spine of your team to stand up and be counted in Old Firm games.
“Those two, James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and so on.
“Sometimes when the chips are down and you maybe haven’t been playing so well, that’s when you need to lean on the experienced guys.
“Gerrard has spoken about it after the Malmo game, about talking to them. They had an erratic five minutes in that match and you want the big players to calm it down.
“We’ve seen that in the past week and he’ll need more of that against Celtic as well as Alashkert.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, these ties are difficult.
“The distance to travel isn’t ideal, especially with an Old Firm game around the corner.
“But I’d like to think Rangers have enough in the tank to finish the tie off and reach the Europa League group stage.”
Alan Hutton was speaking in association with Coffee Friend, an international retailer for coffee and coffee machines.