Alex Gogic urges St Mirren to ‘show respect but not fear’ against Rangers

St Mirren defender Alex Gogic insists they will show Rangers “respect but not fear” when they take on the under-fire Ibrox team.

Rangers have drawn with Motherwell and Dundee in their opening two William Hill Premiership games, and new head coach Russell Martin has come under major criticism from fans following Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs.

However, Gogic dismissed claims that Martin’s team were “there for the taking”.

“I think that’s a bit of the outside noise,” the 31-year-old said.

“At the end of the day, Rangers is Rangers. They’ve got good players, so we go into the game like we do every other game – show respect, but not fear.”

Stephen Robinson’s side came out on top in their head-to-head record with Rangers last season, taking seven points from the last three games. But Gogic knows they cannot rely on past performances.

“Other seasons, you beat other teams and then you lose next season,” the former Hamilton and Hibernian player said.

“But we’ve got a new team, fresh players. And, as well, they’ve got a new manager and new players.

“It won’t be the same game like last season, for sure.”

Rangers remain odds-on favourites to win in Paisley on Sunday but with three top-six finishes behind them, a St Mirren victory would not be the major shock it was formerly viewed as.

“It’s improved a lot,” Gogic said. “You know how the gaffer is. He’s a perfectionist. He does all the hard work and we just have to listen to him.

“As time passes, me and Marcus (Fraser) and the older boys, we know exactly what he wants. And then the new boys that come in, we also help them to realise quicker what the gaffer needs and wants.

“And it just shows what a great job he’s done since coming in.”