Sunday's victory over Kilmarnock was as convincing as any we have enjoyed this season, although it is hard to judge how much was due to Killie's inadequacies. Having gone 2-0 up midway through the first half, for the first time in a long time Rangers were in a comfort zone but our lot has been so erratic it was not until Dado hammered home the third that we could finally relax. Maybe it is time to believe in our team again.
We managed to grind out a victory over Dunfermline, gave a gritty performance against Hearts, battled back from being twice behind to get the point we needed in Auxerre and were convincing winners over Killie. These have been modest achievements but not so very long ago everyone was looking forward to facing Rangers so we have to welcome this change in the climate and look on the improvement as the laying down of foundations which can be built upon.
After all the turmoil of the past few months, it is good to have something to get our teeth into and it is now, with the players' confidence returning and the mood around the club being positive, that PLG's qualities should surely shine through. The plusses must be stressed, the swagger should return to our play and our summer optimism may no longer look so misplaced.
It is no coincidence that the upswing in our fortunes has come with Baz and Jeremy being back to their best in midfield. And Charlie Adam has benefited greatly from having their craft so close at hand. When did you last see Charlie last look so confident about having a pop at goal when defenders have shepherded him on to his 'wrong' right foot? The Killie keeper never saw it, let alone get a chance to save it, and that goal set the tone for the afternoon.
Boydie is always a good bet for a goal against his old club and, after he duly delivered, I reckoned it was then just a matter of how wide our winning margin would be. Of course, there is no shortage of prophets of gloom around Ibrox and, with the visitors enjoying a lot of possession early in the second half, there may have been a few worried looks around if they'd managed to peg a goal back.
But our defence was never seriously stretched and it was great to see Dado wrap things up with his first goal since we gubbed Falkirk in early September. He has laboured a bit lately but you won't hear me agreeing with those who reckon he is a spent force. Used properly, he is still capable of doing a lot of damage on our behalf, just like he did when he checked inside to rattle the ball into the net at the weekend, and it was sensible that he was subbed right away. Le Gaffer clearly feels Dado needs to be wrapped in cotton wool. Smart thinking!
It was, however, a little disappointing to hear PLG talk about Ra Sellick's fightback at Easter Road being no bad thing because it enabled us to increase our lead over Hibs. I beg to differ Monsieur. We must never concern ourselves too much with the teams behind us. Regardless of Sunday's result, Hibs were behind us and, so long as we look after our own business, they will stay behind us. The target must always be the team ahead of us and every single point they drop is an opportunity for Rangers to take closer order. Thirteen points is one helluva gap and so is twelve but, if given the choice, I know which I'd prefer.
So as much as we hate the Sheepies, I don't want to hear our man saying a Septic victory over Dolly & Co this Saturday will be good for us. Sure, we want to shake off any threat to us pushing for a Champions League slot but we can look after that ourselves. An away win at the Piggery this weekend IS the best result for Rangers and anyone suggesting otherwise is in need of a pretty powerful wake-up call.
It would make for a horrific summer if the Mhanky Mhob were to go off the boil, we close the gap to four or five points, only to run out of games at the end of the season. It will be bad enough spending the close-season regretting all the silly points we have dropped to the teams in the bottom half of the table. I'd hate to think the difference between Them and Us might be that scabby point they strong-armed their way to on Sunday or anything Bears might mistakenly hope they get against the Two Jimmies lot this coming weekend.
I don't like to see Septic win so much as the toss-up, no matter who they are playing, and it will take a dramatic change in the landscape for that to change. As I see it, the worst case scenario is always an FC Semtex win but this time around, even if the worst comes to the worst, we can console ourselves with the knowledge that our 'friends' in the north will be a bit further off the pace.
But first and foremost Rangers must do the business for themselves and it is beginning to look like we might be capable of doing so. Lets keep it up.
LITTLE BOY BLUE