Rangers recruits have finally connected with supporters and 4 point plan can seal special relationship – Barry Ferguson

There's an old saying which might sound like a bit of a cliche but which everyone on the face of the planet knows to be true: Happy spouse, peaceful house.

And that’s a lesson the Rangers new boys learned for themselves on Thursday night when they really connected with their own supporters for the first time since the new season began. Don’t get me wrong, beating Real Betis won’t solve all of the problems which have been plaguing Michael Beale’s new look side over the first couple of months of the campaign.

Quite clearly, the manager is still trying to find the right balance and chemistry in his team. In that regard, Rangers remain a work in progress even despite a superb start to their Europa League group. But the whole process will become a whole lot easier if the fans are engaged and fully on their side. Trust me, I know how important this relationship can be.

Unlike the guys who only arrived in Glasgow over the summer, I was brought up in it from the start. I was one of them before I was lucky enough to play in front of them. That gave me the advantage of knowing what was expected from me every time I pulled on that shirt and, for the most part, how to keep them happy.

I didn’t always perform at my best. They’ll tell you themselves, there were plenty of days when I just wasn’t at it. My touch was off, I was a yard slower than I wanted to be, my passing was sloppier than it should have been. These things can happen to any player - and I was certainly no exception.

But I was lucky enough to realise what the fans really demanded of me. Yes, they want to turn up and be entertained by silky, free flowing, attacking football. Of course they do.

But they’re also intelligent enough to understand that it can’t happen all of