Can it be fixed? The stat which deeply worries Rangers fans

Quite a few statisticians have made a fairly big deal of this particular issue, so we thought we would have a look at it ourselves and try to sift through it.

In short terms, Rangers’ away record is significantly better than their home record.

To date, Rangers have won 9 of 13 on their travels, with two draws and two defeats accompanying those wins.

By contrast, we have only won 6 at home, again drawing a pair but losing five.

What are the facts here?

The only one of the ‘big four’ of the SPL, that is, Hearts, Celtic, Hibs and Aberdeen, that Rangers have beaten at home is Aberdeen, and oddly we have done so twice, but have failed to register a three points against any of the other three. In fact, the only single point we have managed against any of Celtic, Hibs or Hearts at Ibrox was that opening draw with Hearts on the 19th of August.

If we take it even further, when St Johnstone were in fine form, they too walked away from Ibrox with the win.

By contrast Rangers’ away record is filled with stunning points over Celtic, wins over Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts, and that wonderful display in Perth against St Johnstone.

In short, Aberdeen aside, we do far better on opponents’ patches than our own. Indeed, the only two defeats away all season were to a Scott Allan inspired Dundee and that bizarre Murty debut at Rugby Park.

What can we ascribe this oddity too?

There are theories that these players just are not mentally big enough to deal with playing for Rangers at Ibrox. And that has a lot of merit. Our fans are an unforgiving lot, and a few comments on the site have criticised the Govan stands for berating rather than supporting players.

There is a problem with this though; can any of us name another club in Britain which has anything 50,000 supporters at home every other week and who does not expect the win each match? The only valid one is Newcastle, and they do expect the win, just like they used to in their 90s glory days under Keegan.

And therein is the problem – Rangers fans at Ibrox expect Rangers. We win. We always won. But our Glasgow support has not fully adjusted to the fact that in this current era, we do not. And as such pressure players perhaps more than they used to and cause performances to suffer.

The away support is smaller, and the grounds much more modest, which allows our players a little less pressure to perform and express themselves.

Of course, many can throw the argument of Celtic Park at us – why have we managed two draws under 60,000 supporters within the most toxic environment other than Pittodrie, where we also manage to get results?

Not absolutely sure. Possibly because our players are less familiar with these fans and enjoy silencing their hate, while back at Ibrox they want to impress us and in the bigger matches, that is harder to do on a frequent and consistent basis – aka every fortnight.

Getting a result at Celtic Park every 22 matches is easier to do than winning the ensuing circa 22 fixtures at Ibrox consistently.

But, truthfully, we cannot give an answer. Anyone else who can is just doing the same as us – speculating with neat sounding theories.

All we know is the away form suggests there is a team in there, while the home form bodes poorly. And the trick to getting something back of our Rangers is fixing the latter. How that will be achieved is anyone’s guess.