We’ve learned from painful Old Firm lesson, says Murty
GRAEME MURTY admits that the psychological blow of losing to ten-man Celtic knocked the stuffing out of Rangers.
Entering the last Old Firm game in a rich vein of form with a chance to resurrect hopes of a bona fide title race, the Ibrox side led twice, before sliding to a 3-2 defeat to their bitter rivals.
Beaten by Kilmarnock at home in their next game, Murty was forced to drop his nice-guy persona to drag his side back from a 2-0 half-time deficit at Motherwell last weekend.
Now three points behind Aberdeen in the battle for second, Rangers face Dundee at Ibrox this afternoon with fourth-placed Hibs breathing down their necks.
And Murty now concedes that the recent defeat to the Parkhead side cast a long shadow over the dressing room. ‘Given the expectancy in the air going into the game — from the players, from the fans, from Ibrox — and going up twice and coming away with a negative in that game...,’ said the Rangers manager.
‘That has possibly had more of an impact than we had foreseen.
‘But we have to reinforce the players’ belief in one another and in themselves and what we’re doing to continue our journey on an upward path.
‘There’s lots of stuff we’ve changed and done that a lot of people don’t necessarily see that’s improving and getting better. But we have to make sure we back it up by putting in the performances and getting the points.
‘We haven’t managed to do that in the last few games — but I still believe this group of players are capable of beating anyone in the country on their day.’
The chance to prove it comes quickly. Next weekend the Ibrox side face Celtic once more in a Scottish Cup semi-final.
Josh Windass — who has scored 17 goals so far this season — will miss today’s game and is an injury doubt for Hampden.
‘Josh won’t be fit for tomorrow, he’s too sore,’ said Murty. ‘We are still hopeful for next week but we will assess him after the weekend.
‘We will make our judgement from there.’
Ross McCrorie — missing since an injury in the 0-0 draw at Parkhead on December 30 — is poised for some game time against Dundee in a bid to get him ready for Celtic.
‘Ross is in the squad,’ confirmed Murty. ‘Given the nature of the athlete, I believe Ross could drop into a game.
‘Given the way he lives his life, the way he approaches training and the good care that he takes of himself then, yes, whenever we try and use him, he’ll be ready to go.’
A trip to Hampden to face a Celtic side they haven’t beaten in nine attempts will ask further questions of the mentality within the Rangers squad.
And of the ability of the interim manager to draw performances from a dressing room inevitably asking themselves who the next permanent manager will be.
One of the few jobs where being a nice guy is perceived as a sign of weakness, Murty (below) was forced to show another side to his character when Motherwell threatened to inflict a third straight league defeat on his side last weekend.
‘I took a step forward and got in a few peoples’ faces,’ he revealed.
‘I demanded a little bit more from them and they responded.
‘That’s a side they wouldn’t have seen of me. We’re all capable of being many different people.
‘You have to be able to utilise the right tool for the right situation and I felt the time was right to be a wee bit angry.
‘It hasn’t been necessary before. When I’ve had to change things before it’s been more tactical or personnel based. ‘I just felt we didn’t stand up to the challenge in the first half and I said to the players they had to step up because I couldn’t do it for them. ‘The pleasing part for me is that they showed their level and showed the fact they can take it on board and go and influence the game. ‘It’s not enough as a Rangers player just to take part in the game. You have to contribute something and do something and we had more players looking to do that in the second half, which is pleasing.’ Two goals down after 45 minutes, a penalty kick and a Jamie Murphy strike moments later claimed a point. ‘They knew at half-time it wasn’t acceptable,’ Murty said. ‘You can cajole and change shape but, once they cross the white line, the players have to step up and do it because I can’t pass the ball and put it in the net for them.
‘You can be a nice guy but still be really demanding.
‘When I have been demanding, the players have performed and when they don’t then, be in no doubt, they will be told and held to account for their levels.
‘But this is a job very much where you live vicariously.
‘You rely on them to showcase your knowledge — which is a difficulty at times, frustrating at times, but at other times immensely rewarding.’
Battling for survival, five points ahead of Partick Thistle and Ross County, Dundee earned an impressive point at Parkhead in midweek. Tight and compact, the game plan for Ibrox is unlikely to change much.
‘Dundee were excellent,’ added Murty. ‘Their organisation, structure, intensity and work rate for one another was great and they caused Celtic a threat at times, so we have to be aware of what they’re going to do.
‘But we have to go and push the issue and press the game and make sure we play with the right intensity and tempo to put them on the backfoot — and make them as uncomfortable as possible.’
“We have to reinforce the players’ belief”