JASON Holt admits it has been tortuous to read the scathing comments of a host of former Rangers players in the wake of last Sunday’s Old Firm humbling.

He accepts Rangers badly let down their supporters with such an inept performance, as well as manager Graeme Murty. But, he believes there is a fierce desire within the squad to put things right when against Hearts today.

“It is difficult to read the comments but it should spur us on and give us more motivation to go and put it right,” he said.

“As players we cross the white line, we need to stand up and take responsibility. When you are winning games it is fine and everyone is applauding. When you lose as we did on Sunday, which was unacceptable, you need to stand up and take responsibility.

“As well as a show of unity towards the manager, Sunday is huge for the players, 100 per cent. There’s no doubt we let everyone at the club down last week, including the fans. We need to try to give them something to shout about. We’ve got a job to do and the minimum is second place. We need to go and achieve that now.

“It’s down to us to get the fans onside again. They’ve got every right to be angry about the Celtic game because it was unacceptable. The only way we’ll get them back is with good performances and winning games of football. We have to show some passion and hunger on the park.

“The crowd will be on top of us on Sunday but we still have enough characters in the dressing-room to deal with that.”

Holt wouldn’t discuss the suspensions of Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller but he knows Rangers have a major fight on their hands to finish second.

“It’s huge for us to finish second in the league now. It should be the bare minimum for this club.

“At this stage in the season, we have five massive games to go and every player in the squad has to be ready for it.

“We need to show on Sunday that we’ve been hurting and then put it right.”