AWAY DAY BLUES
Jack knows Rangers must fix their record on the road
RYAN JACK ended his season by walking out of Rugby Park with an unwelcome yet familiar feeling. He knows the narrative must be different when he and Rangers next return.
A second defeat in Ayrshire didn’t have much impact on the overall story of a first Premiership campaign under Steven Gerrard’s command.
Only the final points margin between first and second place was affected by failing to record a seventh successive win. And Rangers had long known which berth they would be occupying.
For one of the reasons why, you need to look back to their previous league visit to Kilmarnock. It was there — on a crisp January evening — that the Ibrox outfit suffered a far more costly 2-1 reverse, instantly draining away all the momentum gathered by a long-awaited Old Firm victory prior to the winter break.
Rangers lost a total of ten points over the course of their four top-flight meetings with Steve Clarke’s men, drawing twice in front of frustrated home crowds. Theoretically, turning those results around would have been enough to make them champions.
But then Rugby Park wasn’t the sole place of difficulty when travelling to take on top-six sides.
While narrow defeats at Celtic Park were balanced by successes at Ibrox, Gerrard’s men failed to win on either trip to Easter Road and came out on top in only one of two games at Pittodrie.
Jack doesn’t pretend going to any these venues should be in any way easy. He is acutely aware of how tough Kilmarnock, Hibs and former club Aberdeen can make life for either side of the Old Firm.
Even so, the 27-year-old midfielder argues that consistently racking up big away victories is required if Rangers are to take another leap forward and dethrone Celtic next time around.
Reflecting on flaws in the season just done, Jack said: ‘In certain games, we didn’t show up — like Sunday and the previous one at Rugby Park, where we were level on points at the top of the table after the winter break.
‘We started badly and never really recovered well enough from that. If you are going to win leagues, you need to go to places like Rugby Park, Easter Road and Pittodrie and take full points.
‘We have shown that we have the ability to go and win big games but it’s showing that consistently.
‘We did it towards the end of the season but there is no pressure and you’re playing for pride. We need to do that more consistently throughout the season.’
Asked whether mental approach was the issue behind those costly no-shows, Jack said: ‘Part of it is down to mentality. I’ve played in the league a long time, so I know what it’s like going to Rugby Park, Easter Road and Tynecastle. They are tough grounds to go to.
‘You can’t just turn up and think because you’re Rangers you’re going to win the game. You have to be fully focused and if you aren’t then results like Sunday’s defeat will happen.
‘But the group of players and the run we’ve been on gives me optimism for next season. We’ve shown what we are capable of and the staff we’ve got behind us gives me real hope.’
Jack is well-placed to judge the improvements under Gerrard’s command. Signed from Pittodrie in the summer of 2017, he lived through the implosion of Pedro Caixinha’s reign before a serious knee injury sidelined him for much of Graeme Murty’s interim tenure.
Returning to fitness, he became a mainstay of Gerrard’s debut campaign as Rangers reached the Europa League group stage and recorded their highest points total since returning to the top flight.
Silverware remained absent but Jack is convinced all at Ibrox will be better for the experience gained.
‘We’re disappointed to end the season with defeat and it was a chance missed to make history because there was a lot of talk about no team having won all their post-split fixtures,’ he said.
‘But it’s hard to have too many complaints because we’ve been on a good run and it just wasn’t to be on the day for us.
‘The outlook is much more positive than 12 months ago. A new staff came in and there were a lot of changes with players coming in and others going out.
‘It’s been a good season but disappointing that there’s no trophy to show for it because that demand is there from the supporters and we haven’t managed to deliver it.
‘That is disappointing but I believe we have come a long way. I’m convinced we can challenge for trophies next season because we’re 12 months on and we have worked together and know each other better.
‘I’m sure there will be more changes in the summer players-wise but it is about getting focused and coming back for pre-season. The European games come thick and fast, so it’s important we’re ready to hit the ground running.’