Andy Halliday has praised Rangers' fans, with the midfielder explaining that the support helps to motivate the players in tight games.
The Gers, who were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-placed Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship at the weekend, are currently eight points clear at the top of the league table, albeit having played a game more than second-placed Hibernian.
And Halliday explained that he has been impressed with the support of the Rangers fans, whom he thinks have been patient.
“At the start of the season, I said they [the fans] would maybe have to be patient and buy into what we’re trying to do, but they have been first class with us this season and trust me, it does help on the park when games are a wee bit ugly and a wee bit tighter”, he told the club’s official site.
Rangers will next face Premiership opponents Kilmarnock in a Scottish Cup fifth round replay tomorrow night, with the original tie ending in a goalless draw at Ibrox earlier in the month.
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The Scottish giants have been very strong at home, and hence Kilmarnock’s performance drew praise from Halliday.
“I think we’ve seen a few times this season when we haven’t been at our free-flowing best, when it hits that 60/70 minute mark, teams start to tire and maybe lose that bit of concentration as we have had so much of the ball”, he added.
“But that’s something Kilmarnock never did last weekend and they deserve a lot of credit for that.
“They were very organised and resilient to the end, but when there is a big crowd behind you, it gives you that extra kick and spur, and it doesn’t help the other team either.”
Halliday, who joined Rangers from Bradford City in the summer, has thus far made 31 appearances in all competitions for his new employers, scoring six times.
