Murty sees humility in Ibrox men
Holt knows that fresh faces will spark a fight for places in a midfield full of class
GRAEME MURTY wants his players to prove today that a dangerous, selfcongratulatory streak has been rooted out of the Rangers squad.
The Ibrox side, coming off a midweek win over Aberdeen, face the Ladbrokes Premiership’s bottom club Ross County in Dingwall.
Although Murty led his team to a 2-1 win over Owen Coyle’s men last month, a number of fixtures against sides sitting in the bottom half of the table have proved troublesome.
St Johnstone, Dundee, Hamilton and Kilmarnock defeated a Rangers team good enough to beat Aberdeen twice, draw with Celtic and defeat both Edinburgh clubs in the capital. And
JASON HOLT welcomed the signing of one of the most difficult opponents Rangers have faced this season as Greg Docherty’s arrival hiked up the number of central midfielders competing for places in the Ibrox side to nine. Docherty joins a department deep in class and featuring Holt, Ryan Jack, Graham Dorrans, Sean Goss, Ross McCrorie, Niko Kranjcar, Andy Halliday and Jordan Rossiter.
If all are fit and available, a few quality odd men out will be disappointed by Graeme Murty.
Holt’s prospects of remaining a central figure were boosted by a nomination as captain for the midweek win over Aberdeen.
But he is well aware that status is no guarantee of retaining his position as Rangers, flush with new faces, push for second place in the top flight and a Scottish Cup run.
In the excellent 21-year-old Docherty, who starred in a shock 2-0 Accies win at Ibrox in November, Holt acknowledged Rangers have secured one of the more impressive rivals his club have come up against this term.
Holt said: ‘I’ve played against Greg a couple of times and, in the games we’ve played against Hamilton, I’d say he has definitely been their standout player. I think he will be a great addition.
‘He has quality. He is a powerful player, someone who can drive the midfield and get on the ball. I’m really happy and looking forward to working with him.
‘The gaffer has brought in some real quality players — we’ve already seen that in the training. There is definitely more options there. It has added a great deal of strength to the squad.
‘That gives him selections to make. I thrive on this kind of competition and it’s what we need at a club like Rangers.’
Holt teamed up with on-loan Queens Park Rangers man Sean Goss on Wednesday as the Ibrox team recorded a third victory against Aberdeen, prevailing 2-0 at home.
Goss was one of four to debut as Russell Martin partnered David Bates, Jamie Murphy started wide and Jason Cummings — a former Hearts youth team-mate of Holt — made his bow as a secondhalf substitute.
‘I think each one of the new guys has brought an extra spark,’ added Holt (right). ‘There are new attributes brought to our game that have helped all the other boys.
‘The gaffer and staff behind the scenes have done really well to bring in these players. Hopefully, we can keep it going and constantly improve this team.’
Holt, reduced to fringe operator for much of the season under Pedro Caixinha, was promoted to skipper for the first time in his Ibrox career in midweek. First-team coach Jonatan Johansson dropped the news to the 24-year-old following the squad’s pre-match meeting. ‘That was a night to remember for me, a really proud moment,’ he declared. ‘It’s such a privilege to captain this football club. I just go and play my normal game anyway. ‘I did not do anything differently, I think the armband should not change what you do on the pitch or off the pitch.
‘I was just myself again. But when you wear the armband, it maybe does bring added responsibility and that is something I thrive on, to be honest. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve always tried to lead by example with my work-rate.
‘That won’t change. If I can do that on the pitch and others around me follow suit, then that’s great.’
With summer signings Jack and Dorrans out and McCrorie, converted from centre-half to midfielder, also sidelined, Holt and Goss are shaping up to be a pairing in the centre of the park for weeks to come.
The competitive Rangers bow for 22-year-old Goss against the Dons was impressive, particularly in light of his lack of first team opportunities at Loftus Road.
Signed by Ian Holloway last January, he was limited to six appearances for QPR last season and not considered for Championship action this term.
The former Manchester United kid’s ball-playing skills might have got lost in some English second-tier clashes but did not look at all out of place in a good quality contest against Aberdeen.
‘The standard was very similar to the Championship,’ said Goss. ‘It’s very physical — but there was probably more chance to play football against Aberdeen than there is down the road.
‘They have some really good ball players in their team. But against teams lower down, it will be about how we pick our way through and break them down.
‘It can be difficult for a player like me in the Championship because I like to get the ball down and pass it.
The armband does bring extra responsibility and that is something I thrive on, to be honest
‘That’s why Rangers was the perfect fit for me — after hearing how the gaffer wants to play, it was a no-brainer.
‘QPR definitely had to change the way they were playing in order to try and pick up some results. The things we were trying weren’t working, so the gaffer there decided to change it.
‘It’s been good for me to come straight in at Rangers and get the minutes I have already. I feel that will help me enormously in the long run as I haven’t played for a while.
‘I am still looking to build on performances. I still feel I’ve got a lot to show. I want to be here to play as many games, influence as many games as I can.
‘That was a brilliant atmosphere to experience in my first game. The boys told me beforehand how good it would be under the lights at Ibrox. And there was some noise in there. It was terrific.’
Now from those home comforts to the hard miles. From the theatre of Ibrox to the smaller gigs and long journeys to Dingwall and back to Glasgow, then on to tiny Fraserburgh in the north east in midweek.
No problem for Goss, whose football upbringing at Exeter ensured he was well used to punishing travel from a young age when playing away from Devon.
‘Having seen both sides at Exeter and Manchester United through the ranks, I am prepared for everything,’ he explained.
‘I’ve had a look at the Fraserburgh stadium and it’s very similar to back in my cub days when I played for a team called Crediton. It’s like going back home.
‘It will be good. I’m looking forward to it. Away trips with Exeter could be long, there were a lot of overnight trips even when we were only young.
‘If we were going up to Crewe away it’s a long old slog on the bus when you are that young, it could be six hours or so.
‘The Fraserburgh players will be looking to cause a huge shock. We will do everything we can to make sure their journey ends there.’