Rangers defender Derek Cornelius believes the biggest change under the new head coach Danny Rohl so far has been a shift in mentality and intensity, rather than tactics.
He insists the squad are determined to build momentum when they travel to Easter Road to face third placed Hibs.
The Canadian centre-back, who arrived on loan in the summer from French Ligue 1 club Marseille, has experienced the early turbulence of Rangers season first-hand.
But he says the reaction inside the dressing room following the weekend win over Kilmarnock has been grounded and focused, not celebratory.
Mentality shift under new manager
With the schedule packed heading towards the busy festive period, Cornelius admits there hasn’t been much time on the training pitch to drill new systems.
Instead, the new manager’s immediate impact has come in the standards demanded.
“The biggest change has been the mentality,” Cornelius said.
“We're aggressive, we bring intensity to each match, each duel.
“We run for each other. When you play for Rangers, the most important thing is to win.”
It’s about doing the basics with conviction, he suggests, something that had been missing earlier in the campaign under axed ex-boss Russell Martin.
Drawing a line under the start of the season
Rangers’ early-season form is not something the squad is attempting to hide from - but Cornelius is clear that dwelling on it is pointless.
He said: “The results haven't been good enough and the performances haven't been good enough.
“But we can’t change anything in the past, we can only look ahead and try to get better.”
There is acceptance, accountability, and determination to put things right, rather than the excuses earlier from Martin.
Atmosphere after Killie win
The victory at the weekend lifted the mood, but Cornelius says nobody inside the squad sees it as a turning point yet: “It’s been more positive, but there’s nothing to celebrate.
“It was a game we expect to win. We need to keep going.”
He stressed that the win was a starting point, nothing more, and consistency is now the only target that matters as Rangers look to claw back gaps on Celtic and table topping Hearts
On expectations and the pressure
Cornelius is under no illusions about the demands at Rangers.
For him, the scrutiny is not unfair, and it is part of what makes the club what it is.
He said: “When you get the privilege of playing for a club that can be the best in the world when things are going well.
“It also comes with responsibility when things don’t.”
He also made clear that the reaction from supporters in recent weeks did not surprise him.
“We haven’t been good enough. And we know it’s up to us to fix it,” he continued.
What Ibrox wants
Pressed on the home crowd’s expectations, Cornelius didn’t hesitate when he said: “I see the fans want high-intensity, upbeat, attacking football.
“They’re in it with us.”
He believes the new manager’s approach suits that perfectly, something that could turn Ibrox back into a difficult place for teams to come.
He said: “When teams experience Ibrox with that atmosphere, it can be intimidating and I think the manager wants that same intensity.”
Looking ahead
Rangers face Hibs tonght, followed by a massive Old Firm semi-final at the weekend against managerless Celtic, but Cornelius refused to leap ahead.
“It’s going to take a run of games for us to start talking about silverware,” he said.
“Right now it’s Hibs and it is one game at a time.”
He knows Easter Road hasn’t been an easy venue for visiting teams recently, with Hibs unbeaten in the league at home for almost a year, but insists Rangers will be ready.
“We need to be focused. We need to bring intensity again,” he said.
“One match at a time – that is how we change things.”
Rangers appear to have taken the first step and restored the squad’s mentality after it was demolished by Martin. Now the challenge is to make it mean something and to claw back the gap.