• Challenge of replicating Malmo performance
  • Impact of Igamane and why patience is important
  • Souttar showings and clean sheet run

Kieran Dowell spoke to the media following the Premiership victory over Hibernian at Ibrox. Here is what he had to say.

What did you make of the game?

Obviously after a tough week, going to Europe, going to Malmo in the week, it was one of those you have to grind out in the end. There was a lot of tired legs. Credit to a lot of the lads, they had to put in a shift this week. Like I said, it was all grinding out results when we did that in the end.

Where do you feel you are in terms of your own performances?

One hundred percent yeah, I’m just looking to take as many chances as I can and build a bit of rhythm in my performances. Obviously it's well known, the last year we didn't do this stuff has been tough. So any game time on the pitch I can get and I’m buzzing with.

There was a moment when the crowd reacted to Vaclav. Is that something you need to get used to at this club?

I don't know, I don't know. I think maybe in the moment, he's probably had a long week himself. He might have felt a bit leggy and thought, I can't do that one. But we all know coming to this club that the demand is to play forward and try and score goals and attack. I think that the manager is of the same mindset as that. So I'm not sure [what happened with Vaclav], maybe it was just a moment in the game, but we're all on the same page that we want to go forward whenever possible. 

Have to have that mindset of always trying to go for the attack and go for the jugular?

Yeah, I think so, yeah. I think since the manager has come in, that's the way he wants to play football. But again, on Sunday there was times where he probably felt he just needed to get a bit more control of the game in their half. So it's different opinions for different moments in the game.  But yeah, definitely at this club, that's what you want to be doing. 

Is it a case with the crowd that their expectations aren't going to change, you have to adapt to them rather than them adapting to you?

Exactly, exactly. 

Challenge now to match the Malmo performance?

Definitely, yeah. I thought it was a brilliant performance from the lads away from home in midweek. That was probably our best performance of the season so far. Like you say, it's building that consistency, but at the same time getting those results. And we've got a few lads who are going to have to play a lot of 90 minutes throughout the week. “It's like I said at the start, it's grinding those results as well sometimes.

What’s your preferred position within the team?

To be honest, it's a cliché answer but I'll play anywhere for the team. I've always shown myself growing up as one of those from three behind the striker. I've probably played a lot more as a centre midfielder since coming to Rangers, through injuries and opportunities and stuff like that. Like I said earlier, it was great to be on the pitch. We did want to go a bit more attacking, which is probably why you can bring me on to link that midfielder to attack. But yeah, I enjoy playing centre midfielder as well. It's another position I've learnt since coming here. 

First start for young Hamza, there's been a lot of excitement amongst the fans with him and his couple of early displays. What have you made of him?

Really impressed with him, yeah. Really impressed. He's obviously only a young lad. But he didn't get off to the best start of an injury first. But he's getting his rhythm now and he's very impressive in training. He's got a lot of power, a lot of pace and I think he'll be a good signing for us.

Does he need patience?

It's up to you [in the media]! He's a young lad, but he's a confident boy. So I think he'll take his chances when he gets them. 

Do you take the same out of the Hibs performance as you do from Malmo?

Every game's different. I think there's positives and negatives to take from every game, even in midweek. The positives from Sunday, another clean sheet, that's a few in a row now, isn't it? They didn't really have too many clinical chances. But what we need to do is to kill the game, get that second goal like we did in midweek. Like we have in other games.

Has John Souttar been key to four clean sheets?

Yeah, John's been brilliant all season, I think, and last season as well. He's been a rock at the back for us. I thought in midweek he was outstanding as well, heading everything. You saw the same again on Sunday. He comes in and deals with it, all the long throws Hibs had. Both him and Robin got their heads on them all. The whole back four, with Jack to saving the penalty, they were solid.