Rangers boss Danny Rohl insists he was left bemused by a nervy atmosphere inside Ibrox during a 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock.
His team were booed off at half-time after toiling to overcome a Killie team who played almost the entire 90 minutes with only 10 men.
James Tavernier opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after Dom Thompson was sent off for fouling Djeidi Gassama.
But Rangers didn’t power clear until after Bojan Miovski scored on the hour mark, securing a win that moves them three points behind league leaders Hearts.
Rohl insisted later that he didn’t understand the reaction from fans, who grew increasingly anxious before the late goal glut.
‘I have to be honest with you, I could not understand this reaction,’ said the German head coach. ‘I love our fans, really, but today I was really surprised. I think in the last couple of weeks we spoke about we want to be together, and we need the crowd.
Rangers boss Danny Rohl was bemused by the boos for his team at half-time
It’s a joyful moment for Andreas Skov Olsen after he scores his first goal for Ibrox side
Skipper James Tavernier celebrates after giving Rangers early lead from penalty spot
‘We got the lead very early in this first half. It is not always easy against 10 men. Anyone who knows football will tell you this.
‘We have a strong bench now. I am proud of my players. We have come from 13 points behind to now be only three points behind.
‘Maybe this deserves a little bit more positive energy. It is not always going to be easy when the opponent has ten men and leaves so many players in the low block.
‘I learned a lot in the last three months about the club, about the demands. In some moments I can understand, in some other moments I can’t agree, but let’s do it together.
‘We finished strongly. I think then the fans recognise, sometimes maybe they are a little bit scared by a 1-0 scoreline that something happens.
‘Maybe this is the reason why, but all in all, let’s go in one direction together until the end, and if we do this, then maybe we have a great finish.’
The impact of Rohl’s subs in the final half hour made a huge difference, especially Andreas Skov Olsen on the right wing and Tuur Rommens at left-back.
Kilmarnock played most of match with 10 men after Dom Thompson was sent off for foul on Djeidi Gassama
Rangers had to wait until just before hour mark for Bojan Miovski to put them further ahead
Oliver Antman also got in on the act when he scored in the 89th minute
Mikey Moore set the seal on a 5-1 win with the final goal of the night in stoppage time
Skov Olsen notched his first goal for the club, with Oliver Antman, Mikey Moore and Miovski adding to Tavernier’s spot-kick.
‘To win 5-1, even with the red card, is pleasing,’ added Rohl, whose team moved three points ahead of Celtic after their game was postponed because of a waterlogged Pittodrie pitch.
‘It is about the group now, being together in these tight games, and taking the next step together.
‘We have a game in the Scottish Cup now at the weekend (against Queen’s Park). We want to continue in this competition with a good momentum.’
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann insisted he could take a lot of heart from his team’s display despite the defeat.
Killie played almost the whole match with 10 men after the early red card to Thompson, but McCann said: ‘I am so proud of them. I have no criticism of them whatsoever. We hung in there and showed brilliant energy for a long time. We can take a lot from this moving forward despite the final scoreline.’
