Rangers manager Derek McInnes has warned his squad against complacency despite a perfect September that propelled them into the Scottish Premiership title race. The Ibrox side won all five of their matches last month, securing four clean sheets and completing a league and cup double over rivals Celtic.
McInnes, who was named Scottish Premiership manager of the month for September, said the team had only had a "wee flavour" of their potential. "We're going to get judged over a period of months, not just one month and a few weeks," McInnes told reporters. He stressed that everyone at the club is under no illusions about the need for sustained improvement to achieve their seasonal goals.
The results have lifted Rangers to second in the table with 16 points from seven games, just two points behind leaders Celtic. Their recent form, shows five consecutive wins, including a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park on September 20 and a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup triumph at Ibrox a week earlier.
Road to Kilmarnock
Attention now turns to maintaining that momentum against Kilmarnock at Ibrox this Saturday. A victory would send Rangers top of the Premiership, but McInnes insisted the importance of three points against Killie is the same as those won at Parkhead. He said the focus is solely on winning each game, not on league position chatter, and that players cannot pick and choose when to perform.
The team has shown more attacking threat recently, with Lawrence Shankland leading the scoring charts with three goals this season. Rangers have scored eight league goals while conceding only four, a defensive solidity they will aim to continue. McInnes's side face Kilmarnock, who currently sit 12th, at home on October 10.
Background and full detail: bbc.co.uk
