Hurting Rangers star pulls back curtain on reaction to fans seethe but is at a loss to explain one thing

Anger and frustration poured from the away end at Rugby Park on Sunday.

And contrary to what some believe, Tom Lawrence insists the stream of disappointment flowed all the way into the away dressing room. There’s a notion amongst the Rangers support that the team they follow near and far are out of kilter with their desire for success, that they lack the leaders, the characters to deliver what they crave most.

Some even reckon this Light Blues squad don’t really care whether they put an end to Celtic’s era of domestic domination. They’re entitled to their opinion of course, and there’s certainly enough subscribing to that view after Sunday’s Killie calamity saw Philippe Clement’s side slip six points adrift of unbeaten league leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.

But playmaker Lawrence respectfully disagrees. And if the fans could only peek an eye behind closed doors, the Welshman reckons they’d see a squad every bit as determined to get back on track as the fans seething in the stands.

“We care, we care a lot,” insisted the playmaker ahead of the Europa League clash with Steaua Bucharest. “The reaction from the fans after the game on Sunday, that hurts a lot because we don't want that. Fans don't want it. No-one at the club wants it. That’s why we need to put on a performance (on Thursday).

“It's important that you actually feel [criticism from the fans] because the way you come back from that, you need to earn the right to have the fans backing you even more.

"And hopefully we do on Thursday, because we’ll need them. In the changing room, you have to get around the new players. Some of them are young, but you have to learn from times like that.

“I'd be lying if I said it’s been a happy place, especially after the game. We