Short-term gains crucial for Arfield

THE next three weeks could define Rangers’ title credentials — but Scott Arfield refuses to look beyond the next three days.

The crammed festive programme sees the Premiership leaders face the rest of the top four — Hibernian, Celtic and Aberdeen — in short order, as well as a return visit to their Betfred Cup conquerors St Mirren and a trip to St Johnstone this Wednesday.

It’s a run which, if they come through unscathed, will all but cement a lead already looking intimidating, if not unassailable.

‘That’s for you guys to pick out,’ said the midfielder. ‘I’ve not even looked at the KICKER: fixtures Caption past Christmas. to fill out the Once space you that look is allocated at a block here of Caption games to like fill out that, the you set space yourself that is up allocated for a fall. here Caption to fill out ‘The the “next space game” that is allocated mentality here is the best way to approach it. We’ll look at St Johnstone and then crack on over the Christmas period.’

Their trip to McDiarmid Park this midweek revisits the scene of a lost lead in a 2-2 draw, which preceded a Scottish Cup exit to Hearts and a home defeat to Hamilton as last season drew to an ignominious early close.

‘It’s a difficult place to go,’ said the Canadian international. ‘They always make it difficult. But, if you’re going to be successful, you need to take care of these games.’

On the back of 27 games undefeated this season, Rangers’ 3-2 defeat to St Mirren last week should be no more than a blip.

However, its context — another trophy opportunity wasted — saw accusations of the Ibrox side’s bottle crashing surface quickly.

‘It gives us huge motivation,’ insisted Arfield.

‘You either cry about it or you move on. This season, we’ve had the answers more often than not.’