RYAN Kent last night suggested Rangers wouldn’t have triumphed in their difficult encounter with Hamilton last season – and predicted their new-found winning mentality will help them negotiate a run of massive fixtures.
Kent netted his first goals since returning to Ibrox in a £7 million transfer from Liverpool in September in the 3-1 victory at the Fountain of Youth Stadium yesterday.
The 23-year-old revealed that he and his team mates were disappointed with their display in a win which kept them level with Celtic at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
READ MORE: Five things we learned from Rangers' 3-1 win over Hamilton
But the winger believes the way that Steven Gerrard’s side ground out the result against Brian Rice’s team shows just how much they have matured.
And he is hoping that will stand Rangers in good stead as they prepare to play no fewer than nine games in the space of 32 days.
“There’s always one eye on what’s going on across the city, but we can only control what we’re doing and what’s going on at our end,” he said.
“But we’re always up for the challenge - we were up for the challenge last season but we fell short and we’re here to put it right this season.
“The winning mentality has changed and players believe more in themselves as you can see from the performances of everyone who have stepped up another level this season.
“Coming off the pitch we probably weren’t happy with our performance, but we’re quite pleased with the result because a year ago who knows what would have happened in a game like that?”
“If we go into the game with the right mentality and treat the opposition with respect then it’s down to us and our performances.
“In the bigger games we get the best out of ourselves and maybe being underdogs helps that. Our performances in the Europa League so far have been excellent and not just with the ball but without it as well.
“It’s an important run of games coming up and hopefully there will be a lot of happy smiles after it, but we need to take one game at a time and make sure we’re putting in 100 per cent in every game and hopefully it will all come good.”
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Kent added: “As long as we’re putting in the right performances and getting the correct results every week then when it comes down the head-to-head games then that’s when we really need to deliver.
“The willingness and winning mentality the manager is developing at the club is what has changed from last season because we might have conceded late in the game if this was last season.
“But we’re more solid throughout the whole team to be able to see out games like that in difficult circumstances after making it more difficult than it had to be for ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Kent admitted his first goal, which his manager Gerrard described as "world class", was one of the best of his career.
“I used to be left footed when I was a kid but that changed at Liverpool Under-9s when Karl Robinson would only let me train with my right foot so I became two-footed,” he said.
“That goal is up there with any I’ve scored. I’ve probably scored goals in more important games but I’m just delighted to get off the mark and hopefully I can kick on.
“I was probably unfortunate in some of the earlier games. I’ve hit the post twice now. But for me, while numbers is a massive thing and especially for forwards, I don’t want to get bogged down by them.
“There’s always a lot of outside noise about having to score more goals - which I do - but I take more satisfaction from putting in good performances every week and the goals are a bonus to help the team.
“As long as I’m doing my duty on the pitch then that’s all I’m concerned about. I’m getting there in terms of fitness and I’ll be happy when I can put in 90 minutes twice in a week - that’s when I can say I’m 100 per cent."
READ MORE: Festivities on hold for Old Firm as key December fixture glut looms
Kent continued: “It’s been frustrating for me but I’ve had to be patient and mentally strong through the injury and I know that good things will come in the end as long as I keep working hard in the training ground and have the right dialogue with the physios and fitness coaches.
“I don’t feel extra pressure. Every time I step on the pitch there’s always an element of pressure that I have to go and perform but not just me as an individual - there’s eleven players out there and everyone has to step up.
“I’m just part of that so as long as my performances are alright, that’s all I can do."
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