Danny Rohl believes confidence has enabled Rangers to take a step forward

Danny Rohl believes Rangers have shrugged off their reticence as they prepare for a crucial game at Motherwell on Wednesday night.

The Gers boss has turned around the domestic fortunes of the Light Blues since taking over from Russell Martin in October and a 13-point gap behind William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts has been reduced to three, with the Jambos hosting Hibernian on Tuesday night.

The German coach, named Scottish Premiership Glen’s manager of the month for January after winning the maximum 12 points from four league fixtures, offered a positive explanation.

He said: “I feel that we have confidence, we want to show where we are, and what we can do on the pitch.

“In the last couple of weeks, when you go to Aberdeen (2-0 win), for example, this is also a tough place, we showed a big character.

“But every game now is a challenge; you never have an easy game now, especially the second half of the season, you know that every point is important.

“I said this after the Hibs game (0-0), even this point is important to take it.

“We’re looking forward more now to such a game as (Motherwell). A couple of weeks ago we were maybe a little bit too respectful, too fearful, too scared for such a game; now we’re looking forward to it.

“But it’s about performance on the pitch, I can speak a lot about where we are at the moment, but we have to deliver again and again, and if we do this, then we have a great opportunity to make the next small step on our journey.

“I think my mindset is always, go for a win instead of a draw, and when you go in a game, this mindset changes everything, because then you are not fearful, or too respectful.

“We respect all the opponents, but you know what I mean, it’s about, you are in front of another opponent, do you want to score, or you think, ‘maybe not’.

“No, I want to see a team that goes with courage on the pitch, and is always ready to score goals.”

Rangers were drawn at home against Celtic in the quarter-final of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup which means back-to-back games against their Old Firm rivals at the start of March.

Rohl said: “I don’t know how often you have as a club in one week to have such two big games.

“I’m looking forward to more support in the home game, because I like to play in front of our fans, and we have two great opportunities in one week, and let’s see what we can do.

“It will be special. In all the games ahead of us; Motherwell, Hearts, we have to do a job in Livingston, and then you have these two big games.

“As a supporter you will enjoy when you take the right results, as a manager I will also enjoy these games, because it’s the reason why we play football.”

On his manager of the month award, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss said: “Yeah, great, of course, but it’s all about my team, my coaches around me, and I’m honest, it is a small prize in one of the seasons where we want to have a bigger prize.

“Let’s see what we can do.”