Maximum points in December the target as Rangers seek to close gap on Celtic

Holt has been encouraged by the uplift in Rangers’ recent performances and wants them to make it a December to remember by winning all six of their fixtures before the winter break, including the Old Firm derby.

Consecutive wins over Aberdeen have hoisted the Ibrox into second place, seven points behind Celtic who have played a game fewer and have not lost domestically in 67 matches.

However, a combination of Rangers victories and poten- tial slips by Celtic who have a game more this month, and face trips to Easter Road and Tynecastle, could open things up.

“There area lot of games over the Christmas period so this is a vital stage of the season,” said the Rangers midfielder. “We have shown recently we have a good squad of players here. If we can keep showing the ability we have then we will be on a better track.

“I think we need to win all our games in December. The games come thick and fast and it is a testing time for any squad. If we can come through this period on the right side hopefully it will be onwards and upwards. We have had two good results but we need to follow this up.

“We dug deep against Aberdeen but we need to show these characteristics more often. In the past few games we have shown what we are all about.”