A mammoth occasion is creeping up on us with a trip to Pittodrie on Sunday, but which away days last season stand out for Rangers supporters?
It wasn’t particularly a season to remember overall having seen the departure of both Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty from the manager hotsear in an unconvincing campaign.
However, with a new season full of optimism after the appointment of Steven Gerrard ahead of us, which away days of last season will supporters remember most fondly?
CELTIC 0-0 RANGERS (30th December 2017)
This is the clash that will most likely stand out in most Rangers fans’ minds, and ironically it wasn’t even a match they won.
A daunting trip to Parkhead under a patched-up Murty side will have had supporters reminiscing about the Under-20s coach’s first Old Firm game in charge – a 1-1 draw at the same venue back in March.
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And whilst most would’ve taken a similar performance on this occasion, what they got was nearly twice as better.
The first-half wasn’t one to remember as the Gers hung on at 0-0. Scott Sinclair, Dedryck Boyata, and Moussa Dembele all came close as the Rangers fans had the all too familiar feeling of watching the Old Firm through the gaps in their fingers.
However, a blistering second 45 had Rangers fans wondering how they never took three points.
Alfredo Morelos was guilty of missing two real chances as James Tavernier turned on the style with his crossing down the right. Tavernier himself also came close early on, with Celtic struggling at times to deal with Rangers’ quality in the final third.
Only the fingertips of Craig Gordon was keeping Celtic level as Rangers took the game to them, but chances did dry up in the final 15 minutes as the Ibrox side let Celtic off the hook.
The final 10 minutes saw Celtic wrestle back control as they pushed for a winner, but it wasn’t to be as Rangers laid down a huge marker and a reminder to Brendan Rodgers’ side that they can compete with them on their day.
ABERDEEN 1-2 RANGERS (3rd December 2017)
Rangers came into this one on a high after a 3-0 hammering of Aberdeen just days previously, but all the media focus was on the dugout.
Derek McInnes was firmly in the spotlight to become the next Rangers manager, and discussions had taken place right in the middle of a double-header between two of the sides slugging it out for second place.
Naturally, the supporters were as fiery and passionate as possible heading into the game, but Aberdeen came in with more of a point to prove than Murty’s men.
Yet it was the Ibrox men who made the strong start as Danny Wilson powered home a 14th-minute header to put the Gers 1-0 up.
Whilst Aberdeen remained passive, Rangers were aggressive, and should’ve put the game beyond doubt before Ryan Jack was sent off for a dangerous challenge – leaving Murty’s side down to 10 men.
It was at this point that many would’ve expected Rangers to fold, but instead they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and doubled their lead through Josh Windass. A sweet counter-attacking move resulted in the attacking midfielder slotting home from a Daniel Candeias cross.
A Frank Ross free-kick brought the Dons back into the game, but Rangers showed real steel to see it out and take a huge leap towards second place at the time.
HIBERNIAN 1-2 RANGERS (13th December 2017)
There was a bone to pick with Hibs from a Rangers perspective after losing to the Easter Road club 3-2 at Ibrox on game two of the season. However, the Neil Lennon vs Rangers rivalry ensured this one would be fiery regardless.
It was expected that Hibs would get on the front foot and take the game to Rangers, and that’s exactly what happened. Easter Road was rocking as Lewis Stevenson managed to open the scoring early on, and a plethora of Hibs chances proceeded in the first half as Rangers looked to be slow going forward.
However, an incredible turnaround before the break saw Windass smash home from close range, before an Alfredo Morelos effort somehow deceived Ofir Marciano to give the Bears a 2-1 lead going into half-time.
Hibs continued to pile on the pressure in the second half as Murty dropped his side back to limit the space. The likes of Brandon Barker, Martin Boyle, and Simon Murray all had openings for Lennon’s men, but Rangers managed to keep them at bay and seal the points.
Many questions were asked of Rangers in this one, and it was a game that didn’t look too attractive on paper beforehand. However, a real workmanlike performance brought a priceless win to see Murty gain more momentum and support.
HEARTS 1-3 RANGERS (28th October 2017)
Murty’s first game in charge of his second spell as manager saw him take Pedro Caixinha’s squad to Murrayfield, where Hearts spent the early part of last season playing their home games due to the main stand renovation at Tynecastle.
The club was at its lowest ebb heading into this one, and a Betfred Cup exit to Motherwell followed by a deflating home draw to Kilmarnock saw a real negative cloud sweep over Rangers.
However, they stood up to be counted on a day where men were required in the capital.
It didn’t look like it would go Rangers’ way when current target Kyle Lafferty fired home a free-kick to give the Jambos the lead, before Ross Callachan missed a one-on-one with Murty’s men on the ropes.
From there on though Rangers took control of the game. The recently-dropped Kenny Miller bagged goals either side of half-time to turn the mood at Murrayfield and get the supporters onside.
Windass, who proved a talisman away from home at times last season, netted a crisp third to get Murty’s second era in charge off to a flyer against tricky opposition.
ST JOHNSTONE 1-4 RANGERS (27th February 2018)
This was vintage Rangers in a cold February night at McDiarmid Park.
Talk of a title race was gathering, and whilst that didn’t particularly come to fruition, Rangers stepped up the pressure on Celtic with this convincing win.
There was a hunger, a zip, and a determination to win this from the off, and the quality of Rangers’ forward play was as good as it had been all season.
Goals from James Tavernier, Windass, and Sean Goss had Rangers on easy street at half-time, before a Morelos header in the second 45 completed the rout.
Added to that, the likes of Candeias, Greg Docherty, and Jamie Murphy were really stating to come into their own in a Rangers jersey, and even a late consolation by Jason Kerr couldn’t take the shine off of the convincing win.
A boisterous Gers supporter were as loud as they had been all season, and you could sense throughout the match that confidence was building around the club ahead of the run-in.
Despite ultimately failing in their quest to challenge Celtic or secure second place, this was a terrific display that had all the hallmarks of a successful Rangers side. More of the same would be greatly received this season.