Charlie Adam has tipped Rangers to be back to their best soon - and piling the pressure on Celtic in the title race.
Goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Kris Boyd earned the Ibrox side a hard-fought 2-0 win over Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League yesterday.
Celtic had stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points at St Mirren earlier in the day and Rangers were well aware they could not afford any further slip-ups as they clawed the deficit back to four points.
Kevin Thomson has already been ruled out for the season and was joined in the treatment room by Kenny Miller, Madjid Bougherra and Sasa Papac for the visit of the Dons, while Steven Davis missed out for personal reasons.
Adam knows the win may not have been pretty to watch, but believes points are more important than performances just now while this Rangers team attempts to click.
"We don't like being behind but there is a mental toughness knowing we cannot afford to drop anything," he said.
"The first half wasn't the best but we got the two goals in the second half and managed to win the game. That's all we can do and we look forward to next week now.
"We've lost a couple of players in the last few weeks who have done really well for us over the last few months.
"So hopefully we can get a couple of the guys back and hopefully we can click and go on a run of results that can push us back into the title race.
"The best is still to come. We dropped points during a tough period but you will see a better, far improved side."
Adam contributed to the win by providing assists for both goals and hopes he has done enough to remain in Walter Smith's plans after starting the last two games.
"It's up to the manager and I'll stick by whatever he picks," he said.
"I'm not one of those guys who mumps and moans. I get on with my job, I work hard Monday to Friday to hopefully get the right to play in the team on a Saturday.
"So we will see how it goes next week."
Adam found himself the target of criticism from his own fans early in the game but appeared to win them over by the end and insists the abuse from the stands does not affect him.
"It's a tough place to play, you can't hide in front of 50,000 people," he said.
"There is no point hiding because there is no place to hide out there. You have to be a big brave man to keep going and that's what I do.
"I don't hide and I never will hide. Criticism is part of life. Everyone gets criticised but it's how you handle it."
Aberdeen earned praise from both managers for their performance afterwards but goalkeeper Jamie Langfield admits it does not ease the frustration of returning to Pittodrie empty-handed.
"We work hard at set-pieces but lost two scrappy goals that way so it's frustrating," he said.
"We saw a lot of the ball and played well but the bottom line is it's still a defeat.
"All the plaudits in the world won't make that any different."
