WITHIN minutes of the favourites tag being metaphorically draped around Steven Gerrard’s neck, the Rangers boss was brushing it off.

Midtjylland manager Kenneth Andersen was the one doing the labelling on this occasion as he played down his side’s chances in the Europa League third qualifying round tie.

Andersen was first to conduct media duties at the MCH Arena on Wednesday and cited Rangers’ achievements in this competition last term and strength of the team Gerrard has at his disposal as the main factors why the Light Blues should be expected to progress.

If it was an early attempt at mind games, it certainly wasn’t going to have any impact on Gerrard. The 39-year-old has seen, heard and done it all in the game and his only focus is on delivering what would be a crucial win in Denmark this evening.

“I’m not really interested in their manager’s opinions and predictions or anyone who’s predicting the outcome,” Gerrard said. “It’s not important. My focus is on my own players. They are at home, we’re the away team. We’ll come here with a game-plan and we’ll see. I think he’s trying to put pressure on our side.

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“But I don’t think you can put any more pressure on me or the team because we represent Rangers and that always comes with pressure anyway.”

Rangers were able to deliver under that demand on Sunday, but only just.

Wins over St Joseph’s and Progres Niederkorn were, of course, important for Gerrard’s side and the late winner at Rugby Park - with Connor Goldson heading home in injury-time - maintained the momentum ahead of the trip to Herning this week.

Gerrard said: “I think it always helps and if I put myself back in the dressing room after Kilmarnock it is a very happy dressing room.

“We have been on the end of those games where you only get a draw or you come away on the wrong end of one. It is a nice place to be. I saw a happy dressing room, it was a big three points and a fantastic way to start the season.

“Sometimes it is not about the style and how it looks on the eye, it is about getting over the line and getting the three points and we have done that.

“I think this will be a different challenge, a different game and we have prepared well for it.”

The victory against Kilmarnock was what mattered most on Sunday but the performance was far from polished from Rangers.

The same can be said about their showing in Luxembourg seven days ago as a goalless draw saw them ease by old foes Progres.

Maribor stood in the Gers’ way at this stage last term and Gerrard knows there will be another rise standards this time around.

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“It definitely will be a step-up in quality,” he said. “I think we experienced that last year.

“With all due respect, as we moved through he qualifying rounds, the level of player goes up from an individual point of view. And normally the league that you are competing against. So to go from Luxembourg to Denmark, with all due respect, it’s going to be a level up.

“We are ready for that challenge. It’s a game we are really looking forward to but it’s very difficult to gauge how much the step-up is. I’m sure we will find out pretty soon.”

The challenge of Midtjylland is one that Rangers won’t underestimate but it is one that they are expected to overcome in the next fortnight.

Gerrard revealed he hadn’t turned to Light Blues coach and former Danish international Peter Lovenkrands for the low-down on his countrymen in recent days.

But he is fully prepared for what lies ahead against Andersen’s side.

Gerrard said: “I did [know a lot about them before]. But I don’t think it’s important what I knew about Midtjylland before the tie.

“But soon as I knew there was a possibility I knew we could face them, probably 10 days two weeks ago, I obviously I had to focus on Progres from Luxembourg.

“But it still gave us time to focus on Midtjylland and their style and strengths.

“It allowed us to watch some of their domestic games this season.

“They’ve obviously had a lot of success domestically, in terms of results. So we know we’re playing a good team. It’s a team we respect.

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“We know they’ve got some really good individuals in the group.

“But I think their main strength is as a team and playing a system that they all follow. So it’s going to be a tough challenge.”

One of the main weapons in the Midtjylland armoury is their prowess from set-piece situations.

Rangers had their own success in that regard on Sunday, with both Scott Arfield’s opener and Goldson’s winner coming from corners.

And Gerrard expects his defenders to be key at both ends of the park.

He said: “It’s an area that we put a lot of focus on. From an attacking point of view, we got a bit of success at the weekend.

“With Niko and Connor, and also Fillip when he is ready, we have got guys with real tall profiles in there, who are hungry in the opposition box and can go and cause a threat. Scotty Arfield gets his goal at the weekend because of Niko’s hunger in the box.

“Then obviously Connor steps up as a leader and gets us three important points. So we certainly carry a threat ourselves.

“But we got down by a set-piece at the weekend, which is a concern. So against a team like Midtjylland, we have to defend set-pieces really well.

“We have to defend our own box. That’s the priority. Scoring from set-pieces is seen as a bonus.”