Case for the defence rests with Culshaw
The blueprint for Rangers’ miserly defensive record was created last summer.
Steven Gerrard’s men go into today’s game at Hamilton Accies having conceded just seven goals in 27 Premiership games.
The Ibrox boss is happy to highlight the work done by first-team coach Tom Culshaw in helping to tighten up the Rangers’ rear-guard.
He said: “Our defensive shape and organisation was a big priority in preseason.
“Tom Culshaw would be scratching his head if I try to take the credit because he’s the one who does a lot of unit work, and individual work, with them.
“As a staff, it was something we identified on the back of the previous two seasons.
“We needed to be better in terms of goals conceded, and harder to play against. We’re certainly moving in the right direction in a lot of areas.
“It’s impossible in football to be flawless, but what you have to do is keep striving to improve in every area.”
Hamilton Accies will find it hard to breach the Rangers’ defence, but stopping their attack is just as big a task and that helps the men at the back.
Gerrard went on: “The best way to defend is to stay on the ball.
“I always want my team to try and own possession. We want to defend as high up as we can, be aggressive and sustain attacks.
“That way, the ball’s further away from your goal.
“I’ve always played and been around a team that’s tried to own possession, in terms of Liverpool and England.
“That’s the way the Rangers fans want to see it. They want to see an attacking team.”
The arrival of Jack Simpson from Bournemouth means at least one defender is set to leave – most likely George Edmundson, currently on loan at Derby County.
Gerrard said: “We have six centrebacks at the moment, but that won’t be the case in the summer.
“Leon Balogun has something in his contract that might trigger an extension on its own in the coming weeks.
“We don’t have to wait for that because we are really happy with the player, and I want him around for next season.”