Trophy success the true goal for Rangers’ Steven Davis

Gers have lost just one match all season but their shock Betfred Cup exit at the hands of St Mirren sparked fresh debate over the character of Steven Gerrard’s team.

They have done their best to answer those critics since their 3-2 quarter-final loss, fighting back from a goal down to beat a stubborn Motherwell before sweeping past St Johnstone ahead of Saturday’s gritty win over Hibernian.

But, as his team prepare to return to Paisley to face Jim Goodwin’s side tonight for the second time in a fortnight, just four days before hosting Celtic at Ibrox, Davis is well aware there will be plenty of people ready to make more sweeping assertions about Rangers’ mettle if they slip up again, having come unstruck at about this stage in both of the past two seasons.

The Northern Ireland international said: “We’re able to draw on the negative experiences and see whenever we’ve slipped up (and we now know) that you can’t afford to take your eye off the ball whatsoever.

“The quality we have throughout the squad and competition for places, everyone is desperate for the jersey and desperate to play and pushing each other in the right direction.

“It’s a combination of things, but...there’s still a lot of football to be played and a lot of challenges still going to be asked of us.

“And, until we actually have success as a group, then those questions will always be there, so it’s up to us to remain focused and keep pushing each other.”

Gers started this season by going on a 27-game unbeaten run. But that streak was shattered by Saints when Connor McCarthy struck in injury-time.

“It was a huge disappointment,” said Davis. “It wasn’t a feeling we’ve had too often this season in the dressing room after.

“The most pleasing thing has been the response after has been good since.

“But Wednesday is a massive game for us, a really important game against a team bang on form and full of confidence.

“We’ll be going to Paisley trying to do our utmost to get the three points.

“Over the course of the season you’re going to be asked different questions and have different challenges put in front of you.

“It’s up to us to try to find the answers to them.”