Heading into the international break, there are certainly plenty of positives for Steven Gerrard to ponder.
A return to form from his side after their Livingston defeat last-week is the biggest plus. The fact they’ve now scored 15 goals in their last four home matches is another. Getting to within five points of Hearts when it could’ve been 11 had things gone wrong is a third.
Yet, there is one thing that Gerrard simply must get to the bottom of before he gets back from the break. The Rangers away form.
Personally, this isn’t as big a deal as the media is making it out to be. Rangers have started slowly away from home, but it’s nowhere near the disaster some believe it to be.
But it is an area that Gerrard could do with addressing and finding a formula for before his Rangers side returns. Those home stats have been staggering so far. 15 goals scored and just three conceded show how ruthless Rangers have been at Ibrox. It means so much to the supporters, and players are starting to understand the importance of their roles as Rangers players at home.
It’s now time they got to grips with what’s going on away from Glasgow, however. Of their four league games this season, Rangers haven’t won a single one of them. That’s in stark contrast to their home form, in which they’ve actually won all four.
A total of six goals conceded and just four scored does show that there is a problem that needs resolving. It’s probably just a small detail or two that needs tweaked. Certainly, it’s surely not a mentality thing. It couldn’t be considering the impressive away results Rangers have had in Europe under Gerrard.
But it will be making the Rangers manager scratch his head as to why his side just can’t get it right away from home.
Rangers are going to get a big chance to do so when they travel to the Hope CBD Stadium in two weeks. That’s New Douglas Park for those who prefer to be traditionalist.
Hamilton are leaking goals left, right, and centre. If Rangers play to their strengths and get on the front foot, the world is their oyster in that one. Between now and then, however, here’s hoping that Gerrard is constantly thinking of how to fix the away problem.
