MARK WARBURTON has revealed his gratitude to the Rangers supporters for the rediscovery of their patience following many years when such a virtue was in short supply at Ibrox.
The manager and his young team have won ten league games in a row, but there have been some stumbles along the way. On Saturday, Queen of the South were ahead at half-time and the home side won with a goal in the final seconds. It was a match notable for the fact the supporters stayed with the team.
That wasn't always the case when Kyle Hutton, now at Queen of the South, was at the cub during some darker times and he admitted after the weekend's game that; "There was a big difference in the crowd. I remember the times we’d go in at half-time 1-0 down and all hell would break loose."
Warburton had heard tales told about how one bad pass could bring out a chorus of boos, so is delighted the support have bought into his philosophy.
“Do I appreciate how the fans are? Very much so," said the Rangers manager. "I was warned about this. David Weir has told me that he’s gone in leading 1-0 at half-time and been booed off the pitch. That is alien to me. That would never happen down south.
“We think, rightly or wrong, that if you go out on the pitch can give 100 per cent, and there will be days when everything you do goes wrong, you can’t help that, you have those days, but what you can control is your effort and your work-rate.
“If we can guarantee all eleven players give 100 per cent then - and that was the message last year at Brentford. It’s a traditional club, a working-man’s club, they work hard for their money. So make sure you give everything. If you jump out of a tackle or you don’t make the run you deserve everything that comes you way. So far the boys have been tremendous."
Waburton was full of praise for his younger players who, so far, have handled the expectation and pressure which come from playing for Rangers, who face Livingston at home tonight in the Petrofac Training quarter-final.
“People talk about how great it must be to play at Ibrox in front of 50,000 people, but I think it takes quite a strong character to do that." he said. "Things can wrong and the crowd can exert some pressure because the expectations is so high.
“Gedion Zelalem is 18, Nathan Owduwa is 19, Dominic Ball is 20, Barrie McKay is 20, Ryan Hardie is 18, These are young guys. Our average age is low so it’s important they can deal with it and enjoy it. That’s got to be the way."
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