Rangers manager Philippe Clement has challenged his side to now replicate their imperious home form on the road after sweeping Aberdeen aside by three goals to nil at Ibrox.
The home crowd had to wait for their team to kill off a dismal Dons outfit after Hamza Igamane’s early opener, but late goals from substitutes Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers eventually made the final scoreline an accurate reflection on how the game had panned out.
Clement’s men have now taken 34 points from 36 at home, but have won just three of 11 matches on the road, and he now wants to see their consistency on their own patch replicated when they step outside of their home comfort zone.
“You see more and more that the team gets used to each other and the right running lines at the right moments,” Clement said.
“It takes time in that way. See our offensive four from today, they were not there last season.
“Danilo a few games, I think I had him three or four games or something, and then he was out. So, beginning of the season, a lot of them were also not there.
“And then afterwards, when that part became better and better, then we lost a lot of defenders and we had to shift also a lot of things. So, also a lot of praise towards Ridvan (Yilmaz) playing on that side against these clubs. How he’s performing, same way for Clinton Nsiala coming in with no experience at this level.
“And also praise to all the staff working with all these young guys to get them really fast in the story and to learn things really fast, because there’s no room for error here.
“For sure, you guys don’t give anything in that way. So my players know, so that’s the way to go. They need to become better and they’re hungry to become better.
“Now we need to confirm these things in the away games. That’s for me the very important point for the next weeks and months.”
Meanwhile, Clement is anxiously awaiting news on centre back Robin Propper and forward Danilo, with the pair forced off during the Aberdeen game after picking up knocks.
Danilo walked off at the break holding his shoulder, and while confirming that his injury was not related to the knee problem that kept him sidelined for so much of last season, Clement could not rule out another long-term layoff.
“I cannot say anything about that,” he said.
“I hear that people are worried about Dani, about his old injury. It’s nothing to do with that, not even around that, but we will see in the next couple of days.
“I cannot say anything about it. Maybe it’s something that’s not too bad, maybe it’s for a longer term.
“We will see in the next couple of days.”
