LIAM KELLY saw Rangers at their worst on Wednesday night. He is expecting them to be their best come Sunday afternoon.
The Motherwell keeper watched on as his former club crashed to a record Champions League defeat against Liverpool and the pressure was piled on Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his under-fire Ibrox squad.
The seven-goal rout was a new low point under the Dutchman's guidance and questions over the futures of several key personnel, both on the park and off it, have again been asked as Rangers have come to terms with the embarrassment in recent days.
A trip to Fir Park offers Van Bronckhorst's side a chance to take the first step on the road to recovery. Motherwell stand in their way and Kelly will be the last line of defence that Rangers must overcome.
"They beat St Mirren 4-0 last week," Kelly said. "We’ve played against St Mirren and seen how tough a challenge that is.
"I don’t sense them being more vulnerable at all. I’m not going to take a result against Liverpool as having any relevance to our result against them.
"We played games against them last year and know how tough it’s going to be. We’re expecting the best version of Rangers on Sunday.
"I don’t know [what the mood will be like in their dressing room]. I think you’d need to be in there to understand how they’re feeling.
"We’re not in there. It’s doesn’t really change the approach from us. We need to be at our best to get anything from the game.
"They’ve still got some amazing players who will be there on Sunday so it’s going to be really difficult.
"We’re expecting a really tough game but we are in a good place. We’re confident in the way the manager has us playing. We’re really looking forward to a game.
"Only naturally [your confidence can take a hit]. In any line work, not having a great day is not going to have a positive effect.
"But Rangers are an unbelievable team. I don’t think a scoreline against Liverpool, when you have Salah coming on and scoring a hat-trick, has any relevance or true reflection on how the game is going to be on Sunday, to be honest."
There are two trains of thought when it comes to debating how Rangers will react the next time they step onto the pitch. This could either be the best time or the worst time for Motherwell to face Van Bronckhorst's side.
The Steelmen head into the fixture with their own point to prove. Motherwell were left empty-handed at Parkhead a fortnight ago but that performance has given hope that a result will soon follow.
"Rangers beat us 6-1 here last season, didn’t they," Kelly said. "If we need any reminder on how tough the game is going to be, there it is.
"But we’re a different team now. We play a different way. The manager has us playing a completely different style because we believe that’s the best way to win games.
"Ultimately, against all teams, the best way to win games is by creating chances and being good in both boxes – none more so than in your own one against the Old Firm.
"The Celtic Park game, we did well to get close but we lost. The manager was really disappointed and unhappy. As a group we were really disappointed and unhappy.
"We’re not just there to get close and lose. Celtic still got the same three points.
"We want to play well. We want to get close. But we want to get close and win.
"It’s going to be really difficult game on Sunday, we all know that and my messages there won’t change. But it’s also one we’re really looking forward to.
"The way the manager has us playing just now has got us excited going into games. We also have to be really good defensively and that’s going to be so important on Sunday."
