Halliday warns his team-mates: We are dropping silly points
ANDY HALLIDAY has warned Rangers they can’t afford to drop more ‘silly points’ in the coming weeks as they look to get back on track in the Premiership.
Steven Gerrard’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Kilmarnock in midweek as they fell four points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic in the standings.
The Ibrox stalemate came on the back of the goalless Europa League clash with Spartak Moscow and Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen.
And midfielder Halliday knows the Gers must ensure they don’t suffer a fourth successive match without victory against St Mirren this afternoon.
He said: “That is the beauty of playing two or three times a week and it is similar to what I said a couple of weeks ago, it is not about too much talk because it is about walking the walk. Wednesday, we got off to a perfect start.
“You play teams that come to frustrate, and rightly so if that is their game plan, and when you score those early goals that should certainly settle you down and you should take advantage.
“In terms of Wednesday, it was certainly a disappointing performance and I thought our decision making at certain points let us down.
“It is important that we realise, and don’t get me wrong it was definitely a blip, but when you look at the league table, it has not run away from us yet.
“But yet is the key word because you can’t drop too many more silly points and that starts on Saturday.
“The thing about that is, that is what I said to the boys, over the next couple of weeks we are going to get tested and you are going to see if you can stand up to it and be counted.
“It is about putting words into practice and Saturday is certainly a big game for us because if you keep having these mini blips it is certainly not mini in the end.”
Rangers are fourth in the Premiership and eight points adrift of leaders Hearts ahead of their clash with the struggling Saints.
But Halliday is confident the Gers squad have the right physical and mental attributes to ensure they are battling at the top sooner rather than later this term.
He said: “I think a lot of it is down to the mentality and environment that the gaffer has created since day one, backed by the staff that he has brought in.
“The thing about the staff is that they are all very good and they are all diverse characters and they all bring different qualities.”