Ryan Kent insists Rangers are right up for the title fight after beating a Hamilton side he believes would have flattened them last season.
The £7million winger fired Gers back in front of Accies with a stunning strike later dubbed “world class” by boss Steven Gerrard.
Kent – whose side saw Ryan Jack’s early opener cancelled out by Lewis Smith’s header for Hamilton – said: “There’s always one eye on what’s going on across the city but we can only control what we’re doing and what’s going on at our end.
“But we’re always up for the challenge – we were up for the challenge last season but we fell short and we’re here to put it right this season.
“The winning mentality has changed and players believe more in themselves as you can see from the performances of everyone who has stepped up another level this season.
“Coming off the pitch we probably weren’t happy with our performance but we’re quite pleased with the result because a year ago who knows what would have happened in a game like that?
“If we go into the game with the right mentality and treat the opposition with respect then it’s down to us and our performances.”
He said: “In the bigger games we get the best out of ourselves and maybe being underdogs helps that.
“Our performances in the Europa League so far have been excellent and not just with the ball but without it as well.
“It’s an important run of games coming up and hopefully there will be a lot of happy smiles after it but we need to take one game at a time and make sure we’re putting in 100 per cent in every game and hopefully it will all come good.”
