Europa win was fantastic..& now it’s essential we hit league form

LUNDSTRAM CALLS FOR GERS FOCUS AS LIGHT BLUES TRY TO CHASE DOWN CELTIC LEAD

JOHN LUNDSTRAM knows Rangers have to reassert their cinch Premiership title defence after their stunning Europa League triumph over Borussia Dortmund.

The Scottish champions’ 2-2 draw with the Bundesliga giants at Ibrox on Thursday night sent the Light Blues into the last 16 of the Europa League, where they were paired against Red Star Belgrade.

After drawing 1-1 against Dundee United at Tannadice last Sunday, which left Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side three points behind leaders Celtic, the Gers host Motherwell today.

And the midfielder knows Rangers, after the high of Thursday, have to readjust to the business of getting league points.

Lundstram said: “That’s your job and what you get paid for, to get yourself up for each and every game.

“You have got to. I think Sunday is a massive, massive game after drawing last week.

“We have got to go and put a performance in and get back on track in the league, where results haven’t been what we’d like of late. It’s a massive game and we have got to get ourselves on track.

“That’s just the way it is and you can’t not put a performance in with the fans at Ibrox there behind you.”

Lundstram admits domestic and European football offer differing challenges.

He said: “It’s a completely different dynamic isn’t it? Dortmund had more of the ball over the two legs and we had more of the ball against Dundee United.

“It’s a completely different dynamic. It’s hard to judge because it’s a different mindset and different in every way, shape or form really.

“I thought we couldn’t have done more against Dundee United. I thought we were spot on. Our attitude was good, the fight was there, we just couldn’t finish our chances which we were all massively frustrated with.

“Going into Sunday it will need the exact same application. We just need to get a bit of luck or rub of the green to try and finish the chances off.”

Meanwhile, Motherwell manager Graham Alexander is feeling the pressure just as much as Rangers ahead of his side’s trip to Ibrox.

Well have not won in the Premier in 2022 and face a battle for a top-six place from a growing band of teams.

Alexander said: “There’s pressure on all teams. There’s pressure on us.

“We haven’t had the wins we feel we should have but that’s down to our control. So we have to try and make those improvements. There’s pressure on us to win games because we don’t want the season to peter out.”