Head coach Danny Röhl has made it clear that Rangers title hopes now hinge not on reflection, but on response, as he attempts to rebuild momentum following the damaging defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle.
The loss, which opened up a 12-point gap to the league leaders, was a psychological blow as much as a numerical one.
Röhl admitted the immediate feeling after the final whistle was disappointment, but insisted dwelling on it would serve no purpose.
“After the Hearts game, of course the feeling is disappointment,” he said.
“But we have to go forward again.
“It’s about us creating a new momentum, a new run.”
For Röhl, the frustration lies in the timing.
Only weeks earlier, Rangers were not even being discussed as title contenders. A sustained run of results had reintroduced belief, making the setback even more painful.
“If you asked eight weeks ago if it was possible to be at the end of December still playing for the title race, you would say, ‘I’m not sure’,” he said during his press conference ahead of Saturday's match with Motherwell.
“That’s why it hurts so much.”
Despite the widening gap, Röhl remains adamant Rangers are not finished.
His reasoning is simple: the season is far from over, but the margin for error has vanished – Rangers have picked up the most points in the league since his arrival.
“There are still 20 games to go,” he said.
“If we win games, then we have a chance.”
Belief, however, cannot exist in isolation, particularly when Rangers fate is no longer entirely in their own hands.
Röhl acknowledged that reality head-on during a team meeting following the Hearts defeat, opting for honesty rather than hollow reassurance.
“I gave them a clear picture,” he explained.
“Where we have improved, and where we are not yet making these big steps.”
Defensive progress formed a key pillar of that message.
Röhl pointed to improved organisation, aggression and a growing number of clean sheets as evidence that Rangers are building something tangible, even if it is not yet complete.
At Ibrox, however, progress must be felt as much as seen.
Röhl knows the stadium’s mood has been volatile this season and believes reconnecting with supporters is essential if Rangers are to rediscover momentum.
“It’s always helpful if the opponent feels they are playing against 12 or 13 men,” he said.
“We need to bring this positive emotional level back.”
That responsibility, Röhl stressed, sits with players and staff first.
Only performances can reignite belief in the stands.
“It’s about us on the pitch,” he said, “but also on the stands, to create togetherness again.”
The emotional reaction inside the dressing room after Hearts was raw.
Röhl admitted the squad was “really down”, but took encouragement from how quickly confidence returned once clarity was restored.
“That’s my job,” he said.
“To lift them, give them direction.
“After the meeting, I felt the confidence was back.”
Even the fine margins that went against Rangers, including a controversial offside decision to deny Bojan Miovski a fourth goal in three games, were framed as part of the broader challenge.
“It was really tight,” Röhl said.
“Sometimes you don’t know if the action is stopped at exactly the right moment.”