GARY MCALLISTER knows all about the power of momentum and the importance of that one day, that one result, that can inspire a side to success.
The midfielder was part of the Leeds United side that finished fourth in the First Division after winning promotion the previous season in 1989/90.
Just 12 months later, the Elland Road faithful were toasting title success as Howard Wilkinson and his players became champions of England.
It took just one season for Leeds to consolidate and stabilise amongst the elite south of the border before they were able to launch their bid for the silverware and defy the odds to go all the way.
Now Rangers assistant McAllister hopes history can repeat itself at Ibrox as Steven Gerrard’s side look to maintain their own feelgood factor and challenge for the Premiership crown this term.
He said: “I’ve been at clubs where they came out of divisions below and came up into the big league - a big city club Leeds United, we surprised a few people in our first season back in the top flight.
“I’m only reminiscing of personal experience and the fact we finished well in the first season it gave the players the belief to go and win the league the following year.
“Doing pretty well in the first season made us think ‘Oh, we can actually go a step further’ even though Manchester United were ahead in the second season.
“There were moments in that first season where that group of players - and this is a new group of players as well - go ‘Oh, maybe we can...’
“There are moments where when you get a sort of performance and result you’ve got to visualise these moments throughout your career and use them to your advantage.
“Why did it go so well? Why were there so many good individual performances? Why did the team play so well? There’s loads the players, the coaching staff and analysts can pick out from that game.”
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