Holt says current Rangers side have
JASON HOLT knows full well the difference between the Rangers side that were Premiership challengers in years gone by and the one which will be Premiership champions this term.
But the midfielder admits that insight doesn’t make Steven Gerrard’s side any easier to stop after they continued their relentless march towards the top flight title on Wednesday night.
A late goal from Alfredo Morelos was enough for Rangers as they beat Livingston to extend their unbeaten league run and move within four points of their first silverware of Gerrard’s reign.
For long spells, it looked as if it would be one of those evenings for the championselect as a first half penalty claim was denied and a series of chances missed and David Martindale’s side would equip themselves well once again.
In the end, Livingston couldn’t hold on as Morelos scored five minutes from time to secure the win that takes Rangers another step closer to achieving their Premiership ambitions.
And former Ibrox midfielder Holt (inset) was frustrated Livingston were undone so close to the end of what turned out to be a controversial and dramatic fixture at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Holt said: “That’s it. You know you are going to be in for an extremely difficult game when you play them.
“You know they are going to be at you for the whole 90 minutes plus stoppage time, however long it takes.
“You have to be at it and on your toes and ready for whatever they throw at you.
I felt we were at it and it was disappointing to lose a goal so late in the match.
“I think the difference is their intensity levels and the fact that they are really ruthless. There is no letup in matches against them. “They are constantly putting pressure on teams and testing teams. When you play against them you have to be on your toes all the
THE first weeks of Scott Wright’s Rangers career have allowed him to adjust to the burden of expectation on his shoulders at Ibrox.
And Steven Gerrard reckons his work to bulk up in the gym will allow him to become a heavyweight performer for Rangers in the coming years.
Wright has made four appearances for Gerrard’s side since making the move from Aberdeen and has impressed each time he has come off the bench against Hamilton, Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Royal Antwerp.
Now he is fighting for a starting spot as Gerrard and his staff continue to work with him on and off the park to get him fully up to speed with a Rangers side that are closing in on the Premiership title.
Gerrard said: “We can’t take all the credit for Scott Wright and the impact he’s had in the short space of time. We knew we’d got a good player from Aberdeen and his previous coaches and previous club have done a fantastic job on him.
“We’ve done everything we can to make him settle quicker and there’s a lot of things we’ve put to him in terms of information from a tactical point of view, to try and get him up top speed in terms of how we play and what we expect from him.
“We have also hit him really hard from a physical point of view in terms of fitness, body weight, diet and nutrition.
“He’s put four kilos on in a month while at the same time his body fat hasn’t moved. He’s a project, Scott, and he’s one
we’re getting ready for next season. But having said that we can still see his talent and we’re getting a contribution from him.
“We’ve had some injuries at the top end of the pitch and a few people have gone out on loan to get games.
“So he’s contributing really well at the moment and he’s on the verge of getting starts, for sure. I think he’s earned that.”
Wright would initially agree a Bosman switch to take him to Ibrox at the end of the season but a deadline day deal saw him make the move in time to play a part in the title race this term. The 23-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and Gerrard is confident Rangers will reap the rewards of his promise as he continues to improve and impress with the Premiership champions-elect.
Gerrard said: “He’s been a breath of fresh air, he’s a great kid, and he wants to learn, improve and grow. He’s been an absolute dream to have here in the last four or five weeks.”
JACK Ross has told his players to remember the success that has put Hibernian in the driving seat for a third place finish as they look to bounce back at St Johnstone.
The Leith outfit suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat at home to Motherwell last weekend.
However, Ross’s team, who have a game in hand, remain four points clear of Aberdeen in the race to become the best of the rest, a lead built on a productive spell of five wins from six league outings.
Hibs take on Betfred Cup winners Saints in Perth tomorrow and Ross does not want his players getting down about their display against the Steelmen.
He said: “We have been on a brilliant run recently, last month we returned a terrific points total that put us in a good position.
“In the context of the last month and beyond it’s been a good period for us.
“Any disappointment you
have is tough in the context of winning the last five from six games and our points return has been great.
“Again, if you take the next five games in isolation, if we return the same points total we will be in an excellent position.
“It is a case of reminding the players that there can’t be a drop in standards.
“it is also a case of understanding what they have done and the very realistic chance they have of having a successful season.”