Rangers focused on breaking Peterhead down in Petrofac Training Cup final
Kenny Miller believes the same problems recently posed for Rangers by resilient opposition can be found in leagues all over the world.
Kenny Miller believes the same problems recently posed for Rangers by resilient opposition can be found in leagues all over the world.
The Championship side began the campaign under new boss Mark Warburton with 11 straight wins in all competitions and looked like they would romp the league.
However, since losing 2-1 away to Hibernian on November 1 which ended another winning run of five matches, they have dropped further points with a 1-1 draw at Livingston and a 2-2 draw at home to Morton on Saturday.
Consequently, despite being three points clear of the Easter Road side, who visit Ibrox on December 28, the Govan club have come in for some criticism. However, the 35-year-old striker, in his third spell at Ibrox, insists the struggle to break down determined opposition is not peculiar to Rangers.
Miller, who was at Hampden Park to publicise the Petrofac Training Cup final between the Gers and Peterhead which will take place at the national stadium on April 10 next year, said: We have put it out there, teams know we are going to play. It is about us finding a way to win a game and a way to break a team down.
We are not the only team in the world that has that. All the best teams in leagues throughout the world have most of the ball, they always face situations that we are facing.
It is about finding a way to wear them down and getting the goals that your play deserves. On Saturday, that didn't happen for us.
We work hard every day, the training is very good, on the whole the performances have been very good. But there have been a few slip-ups to date which at one point at the start of the season didn't look as if they would come.
Everything is not always rosy when you play for Rangers.
It is important not to get too high when you are getting all the credit and all the pats on the back and it is important not to get too low.
We know what we are doing. We know the direction the club is going in.
The manager, Davie (Weir, assistant) and Jim Stewart (goalkeeping coach) are always focusing the boys on what is important which is towards the end of the season and promotion and bringing success back to the club.''
Miller, capped 69 times for Scotland, is happy'' at the prospect of another appearance at Hampden.
The former Wolves and Celtic striker said: When you get to this stage of your career sometimes you might think you have played your last game at Hampden.
I am thoroughly looking forward to it and hopefully we go back to Ibrox with the trophy.
It is important for us as a club and as a team.
We are a new team. It is the first opportunity to win something together, so yes, it is a big deal for us if we can come here and take that trophy.
It might give us a real kick-on towards the end of the season and hopefully it will be a league-winning charge as well.''
Peterhead keeper Graeme Smith, who was on the bench for the Ibrox club in the 2008 UEFA Cup final, is delighted'' the final takes place at Hampden.
You want to get as many fans as possible and no better place to have it than Hampden I suppose,'' said the 33-year-old.
Rather than have 20,000 at Easter Road or 18,000 at Tynecastle or whatever, you would rather have 30,000/40,000 or potentially 50,000 here.
There will be more Rangers fans than Peterhead fans but our fans will travel down in numbers, we are well-supported.
On paper probably Rangers shouldn't see us in their road but it is 90 minutes of football and we have seen in previous finals of competitions throughout the world, in 90 minutes of football anything can happen.''