RICHARD GOUGH is confident quality additions will increase Rangers’ consistency next term.

Steven Gerrard’s side finished nine points adrift of Celtic in the Premiership as a series of poor results ultimately cost them a realistic shot at the top flight title.

The Gers recorded two Old Firm wins as Gerrard made real progress during his first campaign. And Ibrox legend Gough is confident Rangers won’t suffer from the same faults second time out.

He said: “It is a bit like Celtic in the latter years when we were going for nine-in-a-row in that they could always have a good game against us, but they couldn’t beat all the other teams on a regular basis.

“We could beat all the other teams, we had the quality to go and beat them. That is a bit like it just now. Celtic won the tight games, they scored the late goals and that was the difference between the team this year.

“Steven just needs to look at the Kilmarnock games, Hibernian, Aberdeen, we didn’t win enough of those games. Rangers couldn’t beat the other teams regularly enough, but against Celtic we were even in the four games. That is what happens when you have got the better quality, you will beat all the other teams more regularly.

“Steven has done a great job but he has got a hard summer ahead of him. First of all, he has to shift some of the deadwood and that will be difficult because they are on good wages and they might not want to leave. They have to get those players out.

“And then you have to add the right players. I hope there will be two or three quality signings, he doesn’t need the huge change of last year. Those players have had a year playing at Rangers and understanding the demands of the fans, so that will help them. Then it is about who you add.”