Same players, different pitch, polar opposite results. Mohamed Diomande is as mystified as any Rangers supporter over the away day blues that have brought a huge depression over their entire season.
The Ivory Coast international chipped in with a goal as Philippe Clement’s side breezed to a 3-1 home win over St Johnstone on Sunday. But that victory – a 10th from 11 unbeaten home league matches – was secured amid a silent protest and second half walkout from a section of the fanbase over a campaign that has been beset by a travel sickness.
Just three wins from 11 games on the road and 20 points shipped from 33 means Rangers trail Celtic by 15 with their rivals almost out of sight in the title race. Last week’s dismal draw at Dundee was a fourth trip in succession where they failed to return to Govan with full points after draws at Hibs, Motherwell and a Boxing Day defeat at St Mirren.
Throw in losses at Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Celtic Park after the opening day draw at Hearts and it’s not hard to see the pattern of woe that’s killed off any chance of a title party at Ibrox in May. Victories away to Nice and Malmo in the Europa League have only served to magnify the domestic travel problems which have piled the pressure on Clement.
And while new CEO Patrick Stewart gave the Belgian his backing at the weekend it came with a warning that results must improve. Clement knows it. Diomande knows it. And the midfielder insists the solution to solving their away day troubles lies right at home – on the Auchenhowie training pitch.
Quizzed on the difference between their Ibrox results and those on the road, the 23-year-old appeared as puzzled as anyone. But he said: “It’s the same thing – you have 11 players on the pitch. But it has been difficult away. We’ve not been good at getting the points we wanted.
“We are really working hard in training to try and find out why we can’t win games away. And I think we are getting there slowly to get the points we all want. We need to be able to break teams down when they sit down with 11 players behind and we are really working on that.”
Despite their rock solid Ibrox form it was an eery atmosphere that surrounded Sunday’s otherwise routine win over a sorry Saints side. The Union Bears fan group carried through with their promised 55th minute walkout demonstration against the board and Clement.
That, however, sparked a division in the stands as the majority who stayed behind redirected their fury at the ultras group. Before then the place was almost silent in protest against a regime they have accused of letting standards fall. Diomande insists he still felt the support was there for the team though.
He said: “I didn’t really notice anything because I was focused. I didn’t really see what was going around, but I could hear a lot of noise, it was like the support they’ve been giving. So I felt they were supporting us. I didn’t really know what was going on. I just played my game and helped my team mates.
“I mean, we just want to win the games, and winning the games is going to make them happy because that’s what the club is about. I think they have been backing us up. Like I said, I felt like they did on Sunday also. It was good. We got a win, and that’s what you wanted to do.”
Diomande’s 25th minute header killed off any hopes rock bottom St Johnstone had of springing a surprise at Ibrox on Sunday. It was his fourth goal of the season and sixth since arriving, initially on loan, from Nordsjaelland a year ago. He arrived with a box-to-box reputation and has been utilised in various midfield roles by Clement.
But getting into the opposition danger zone more often and adding goals to his game is a priority for Diomande who said: “I really want to keep on doing that. I want to make the difference also when I get up higher on the pitch and I want to score the goals, give the assist, and that’s something I’m working on a training and I hope it continues.
“I’ve had good games, and also not good games, but I’m happy that I was back on the score sheet and I want to continue doing that like I said. I think I can play all around the middle. I can play six, eight or 10. And I think that’s one of my attributes I bring to the team.
“I always want to be on the ball. I want to be on the board, to build the team up, and also getting the box in and score goals. My best position is central midfield. I like to make a lot of runs to create space for my teammate or get the ball and I try to do that every game, and to give the best space for my teammate or to get in a best position to make the difference.”