Rangers winger Barrie McKay admits he’s feeling the strain of top-flight return

BARRIE McKAY admits Rangers’ trouble-hit return to the top-flight has left him feeling the strain.

Gers romped to promotion last year during Mark Warburton’s first campaign in charge but this time they have found it much tougher.

Saturday’s draw with Ross County saw them drop down to third, a massive 27 points behind runaway Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic, with Aberdeen also in front on goal difference.

Wideman McKay has been one of the few men in Light Blue to offer hope for the future but even he was targeted for flak when Gers were booed off at the weekend by the furious Ibrox crowd as they slipped up for the fourth time in five league matches.

And the 22-year-old admitted he has never had a tougher time during his Gers career.

The winger told RangersTV: “The pressure has always been there, you are expected to win and as you saw with the fans at the weekend they weren’t happy and rightly so – we drew a game at home and that shouldn’t be happening.

“This has probably been the most demanding season I’ve ever had. I’ve been with Rangers in the lower leagues when we were winning a lot of games, so maybe this year is the most challenging for me but it is how you come through it.

“We need to make sure we go out there on Sunday against Morton in the Scottish Cup and get the win. We want to play a way which is attractive on the eye but the main thing is to get the win.

“Probably on Wednesday against Hearts and at the weekend I wasn’t as influential as what I would have liked to be but before that I was doing well and getting a lot more of the ball.

“In the past couple of games I maybe haven’t got the ball as much to be able to affect the game.”

Rangers have scored just 32 goals in 24 league matches this term, with their goal difference of plus six now putting them below the Dons, who have a difference of plus 20 and a game in hand.

That lack of firepower came back to haunt the side again at the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Staggies.

And McKay admits his side must start killing off their opponents if they are to reclaim second spot.

He said: “We created loads of chances on Saturday, really good goalscoring chances and Scott Fox was brilliant on the day.

“I think in the second half especially the only thing we didn’t do was put the ball in the back of the net.

“We have still been creating chances but we haven’t been scoring as frequently as what we were last season so we obviously do need the goals to come if we are to start winning games.

“I think it’s a bit of both confidence and luck, we do need that bit of luck in front of goal and Ross County’s goalie at the weekend was brilliant and pulled off some great saves.”

For now, Gers can put their league worries to one side as they focus on Sunday’s William Hill Scottish Cup clash with Morton.

McKay spent six months at Cappielow after making a loan switch in December 2013 and is looking forward to the reunion.

He said: “Most people that I played with at Morton have moved on but it is a great club and Sunday will be a great occasion.

“They have been doing well in their league but I think we have to fancy ourselves at home, we’re the Premiership team and we just need to make sure we go into it with the right attitude to get the win.”